Matt Cullen led the Wild with two goals and an assist as the Wild beat the Oilers in Edmonton, 3-1 Thursday night.
The game got off to a sluggish start as the Wild had just three shots on goal in the first period. Fortunately, Edmonton wasn’t able to score and the game went to the second period scoreless.
The game remained scoreless into the second period until 37-year-old Ryan Smyth put a puck past Niklas Backstrom to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead. Two-minutes and 36-seconds later Cullen’s backhand found the back of the net to tie the game, 1-1. Minnesota had 16 shots on goal in the period.
Minnesota started off strong in the third period and took a 2-1 lead on Devin Setoguchi’s third goal of the season. Cullen’s second goal of the game — with 6:01 to play — put the Wild up, 3-1. It was Cullen’s first three-point game since December 4, 2011.
Cal Clutterbuck took a dirty hit from Taylor Hall late in the third period. He was down on the ice for a few minutes and did not return to the game. Hall was penalized with a five-minute major and game misconduct.
Clutterbuck in a stretcher being rolled by paramedics to Oilers medical room.
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) February 22, 2013
The Wild’s next two games are against the Flames. They play at Calgary on Saturday and in Minnesota on Tuesday.
