Vancouver tops #mnwild, 3-2. @thelnino22 scores twice. Minnesota heads to Calgary on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/em5BWGwtcU
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) February 17, 2015
A streak of 10 games with at least one point came to an end for the Minnesota Wild last night, they fell to Vancouver 3-2, to open a crucial three game road trip through western Canada.
Vancouver’s Alex Biega scored a third period goal in his first NHL game, giving the Canucks a two goal lead, which proved to be the difference maker on Monday night. Henrik Sedin added a goal and an assist for Vancouver.
Nino Niederreiter had a pair of goals in the loss for Minnesota, it was his first multi-point night since November 20th.
The Wild took the early lead in the game on Niederreiter’s first goal of the night and 17th of the season. He tipped in a shot in front of Vancouver goaltender Eddie Lack.
The score remained 1-0 into the second period, but the Canucks wouldn’t go away easy and rallied for three unanswered goals.
Sedin scored his 10th goal of the season just seconds into the second period, and Bo Horvat’s seventh goal early in the third put Vancouver on top.
Minnesota faced its two goal deficit since the All-Star break later in the third following Biega’s goal.
First NHL goal for Alex Biega in debut…Wild's 4th line absolutely dead-legged with Spurgeon and Scandella while trapped in own zone
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) February 17, 2015
But it didn’t stay that way long before Niederreiter answered to cut the Vancouver lead to 3-2.
The Wild had many chances in the final minute with an extra attacker, but could not get one by Lack and the Vancouver defenders.
Lack made 20 saves in the game, while Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk stopped 26 of the 29 shots he faced in the loss.
The Wild travel to Calgary to face the Flames on Wednesday.
Scoring Summary
1st period: 8:55 MIN – Nino Niederreiter (17) Tip-in – Assist: Jordan Schroeder (1), Jonas Brodin (6) 1-0 MIN
2nd period: 0:42 VAN – Henrik Sedin (10) Wrist shot – Assist: Daniel Sedin (34), Alexandre Burrows (13) 1-1 Tie
3rd period: 1:33 VAN – Bo Horvat (7) Backhand shot – Assist: Jannik Hansen (10), Luca Sbisa (5) 2-1 VAN
3rd period: 11:54 VAN – Alex Biega (1) Slap shot – Assist: Henrik Sedin (38), Chris Higgins (19) 3-1 VAN
3rd period: 13:35 MIN MIN – Niederreiter (18) Wrist shot – Assist: Schroeder (2) 3-2 VAN
