#mnwild falls to the Ducks, 5-4. Minnesota hosts NYI on Tues: http://t.co/s0AYRBMmyM pic.twitter.com/8cSVATIR5g
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) December 6, 2014
The Minnesota Wild lost a wild one to the Anaheim Ducks 5-4 Friday night at the Xcel Energy Center.
Ducks center Ryan Kesler was the difference maker. He finished with a pair of goals and an assist in the Anaheim victory.
The Wild fell behind early as Anaheim scored the first three goals of the game.
There were a few tense moments in the first when Wild defenseman Keith Ballard put a hip check on the Ducks Corey Perry.
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Corey Perry in the back and was in anguish. Ballard's been doing that for years…Clean
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) December 6, 2014
Minnesota got something going in the second.
Mikko Koivu got Minnesota on the scoreboard with a rare power play goal for the Wild. It was his fourth goal of the season. Koivu was assisted by Mikael Granlund and Marco Scandella.
Just 20 seconds later Zach Parise cut the the Ducks lead to one with his tenth goal of the year, on another power play goal. The Wild finished 2-of-4 with the man advantage.
Late in the second, Jonas Brodin pulled the Wild even at three with his first goal of the year.
Minnesota took a short-lived lead early in the third, Justin Fontaine netted the go-ahead goal to put the Wild up 4-3, but unfortunately for the Wild it didn’t stay that way.
Tim Jackman evened the score at four for the Ducks, then Matt Beleskey put the Ducks back on top for good, with his 13th goal of the season.
Kuemper said he didn't feel off tonight, felt he got beat my good shots but he can't let in 5 #mnwild
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) December 6, 2014
Brodin finished with a goal and an assist to lead the Wild, Granlund had a pair of helpers.
The Wild are off until Tuesday night when they host the New York Islanders.
Scoring Summary:
1st period: 1:31 ANA Ryan Kesler (7), Snap shot – Assist: Kyle Palmieri (1), Cam Fowler (12) 1-0 ANA
1st period: 11:44 ANA Jakob Silfverberg (2) Wrist shot – Assist: Andrew Cogliano (5), Devante Smith-Pelly (7) 2-0 ANA
2nd period: 2:28 ANA Kesler (8), Wrist shot – Assist: Hampus Lindholm (8), Tim Jackman (1) 3-0 ANA
2nd period: 4:59 MIN PPG Mikko Koivu (4), Deflected shot – Assist: Mikael Granlund (8), Marco Scandella (4) 3-1 ANA
2nd period: 5:10 MIN PPG Zach Parise (10), Snap shot – Assist: Granlund (9), Jonas Brodin (3) 3-2 ANA
2nd period: 17:49 MIN Jonas Brodin (1), Wrist shot – Assist: Jason Pominville (12), Christian Folin (2) 3-3 Tie
3rd period: 2:07 MIN Justin Fontaine (2), Slapshot – Assist: Kyle Brodziak (2), Nate Prosser (3) 4-3 MIN
3rd period: 3:37 ANA Jackman (2), Wrist shot – Assist: None 4-4 TIE
3rd period: 8:28 ANA Matt Belesky (13), Wrist shot – Assist: Ryan Getzlaf (18), Palmieri (2) 5-4 ANA
