Josh Harding made 29 saves and pitched a shutout in the shootout to lead the Wild over the Vancouver Canucks, 3-2 Tuesday night at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Jason Pominville scored the only goal in the shootout for his fifth game-winning goal of the season.
The win snapped Vancouver’s seven-game winning streak.
Harding couldn’t stop a perfect wrist-shot by Jannik Hanson midway through the first-period. It came on a three-on-two rush and Hanson let the shot rip from just inside the left circle.
After killing off a power play just minutes later, the Wild took advantage of a Vancouver trip and Mikko Koivu slipped a sweet pass through the slot to a waiting Zach Parise, who flipped an easy shot into a wide open goal to tie the game.
It was the first power play goal allowed by the Canucks this month. They had killed off 20 straight.
A goal by David Booth midway through the second period put the visitors back in front, and the score remained 2-1 until Charlie Coyle snapped a shot by Roberto Luongo to tie the game at the 8:47 mark of the third period.
To overtime they went and both goalies saved a few fantastic scoring chances to force the shootout.
Luongo stopped 29 shots.
SHOOTOUT SUMMARY
- Wild 1: Zach Parise missed
- Canucks 1: Mike Santorelli missed
- Wild 2: Mikko Koivu missed
- Canucks 2: Chris Higgins missed
- Wild 3: Jason Pominville scored
- Canucks 3: Ryan Kessler missed
Josh Harding gave the team a scare during the morning skate before the game when he was stung by a puck off the stick of rookie and former Gopher Erik Haula.
Josh Harding leaving #mnwild morning skate in pain after taking a high shot from Erik Haula. Nik Backstrom better get ready #canucks
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) December 17, 2013
Zenon Konopka on rookie Erik Haula after his shot stung Josh Harding: "I'm pretty sure he wet his pants." #mnwild
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) December 17, 2013
The Wild’s offense could get a boost Thursday with the potential return of winger Mikael Granlund, according to the Pioneer Press.
Yeo on Granlund: "He's flying;" Could potentially play Thursday in PIT; he'll have good workout today; be "pushed" in Wed. #mnwild practice
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) December 17, 2013
