1. Minnesota got a much needed victory, although it wasn't pretty.
They rarely are on the second half of back-to-back games, but the Wild will take the two points regardless.
Arizona outshot Minnesota 12-8 in the first period and got on the board first on Brandon Perlini's pretty power-play goal 13:12 into the game. Perlini had the puck along the goal line to Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk's left and Dubnyk appeared to have the post closed off. The only part left unprotected was an area just over his shoulder, and Perlini pounced, rifling a shot top shelf for a 1-0 lead.
Mikael Granlund's off-speed shot 3:40 eluded Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper to tie the game at 1-1 before Eric Staal's goal early in the third finished things off.
2. Staal was rewarded with the game-winner after being robbed of a goal in the second period.
With Minnesota charging down the ice 3-on-1 midway through period two, Staal found a patch of open ice in the slot and waited for a pass. He got it and ripped a shot that Coyotes netminder Darcy Kuemper knocked down with an incredible glove save.
Early in the third, Kuemper wasn't so lucky.
Minnesota got the former Wild goaltender swimming in his crease before the puck squirted free to Staal at the top of the crease. The veteran centerman didn't miss a second time, hammering a loose puck into the open net for his second goal of the season.
3. No more late game drama.
The Wild played its fourth game on home ice on Tuesday and for the first time, there was no late game, extra-attacker offense complicating matters for either time.
Minnesota fell victim to late goals in two of the three contests, eventually losing both games (one in a shootout and one in overtime) while scoring one of its own, a game the Wild won in overtime.
Protecting a late lead this time, the Wild made it stand up for a crucial two points in the standings.
