Dubnyk, Wild gain in playoff race, top Hurricanes

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild got an important two points against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, winning 3-2 in a shootout at Xcel Energy Center.
Charlie Coyle and Zach Parise scored in the shootout, and goaltender Devan Dubnyk made 31 saves to help Minnesota win for the third time in 12 games after regulation this season.

Coyle and Parise scored on forehand shots in the first and second rounds before Dubnyk denied Chris Terry's shot in the third round for the victory.
David Jones and Jason Zucker scored for Minnesota (33-28-11), which ended a two-game losing streak and won at Xcel Energy Center for the third time in its past 14 games (3-8-3). The Wild are one point behind the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. Each team has played 72 games.

"This time of the year, going into the shootout, you work and compete your best and hopefully you get the extra point," Dubnyk said. "But going into a shootout right now, getting one point is not good enough for us."
Terry and Jordan Staal scored for Carolina (31-27-14), which has lost four consecutive games (0-1-3) and finished its five-game road trip 1-1-3. Four of the five games on the trip extended past regulation and the Hurricanes have played into overtime in six of their past seven games (2-4).
Goaltender Cam Ward made 30 saves.
"You're always looking for two [points], right? There's no question about that. We've got to make one more play. It seems like each and every night, we've played six out of seven in [overtime]," Hurricanes coach Bill Peters said. "It's that tight around the League, no matter who you play or where you play. Everyone is competing very hard and everyone's desperate for points."

Jones scored at 15:37 of the first period to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead, shoveling a rebound over Ward after he stopped a shot by Erik Haula in the slot. It was his 11th goal of the season and second since he was traded from the Calgary Flames on Feb. 29.
"[Jones] has come in and done a fantastic job, a good pickup for us at the deadline," Wild coach John Torchetti said. "Good body, good size, confident with the puck and makes the right decisions. That's why you play."
Less than two minutes later, Carolina tied the game 1-1, capitalizing on a 2-on-1. Defenseman Noah Hanifin's outlet pass hit Terry in stride entering the Wild zone. Terry's shot went over Dubnyk's glove for his sixth goal at 17:05.

Minnesota scored on the first shift of the third period on Zucker's 13th goal to take a 2-1 lead. Coyle controlled the puck in the left corner before leaving it for Mikko Koivu. Minnesota's captain wheeled around near the left circle and took a shot toward the net that Ward stopped. Zucker was waiting for the rebound, and his shot went into an open net 16 seconds into the period.
"It's always nice to get a goal. But more than that, it was nice to help the team get a win tonight, in any way," Zucker said. "Whether that's shots on net, blocking shots or getting a goal, it was nice to help us get that win. It was two very needed points."
Coyle has an assist in four consecutive games for the first time in the NHL and has assisted on five goals in his past six games.

Staal tied the game at 2-2 with 6:51 remaining, getting the loose puck near the left post after a shot from Joakim Nordstrom from the right half-wall bounced through traffic.
"It started to open up a little bit. Both teams wanted to get that game-winner and you could tell," Staal said. "Guys were starting to skate and find openings and it made for a little bit more exciting hockey."
Nordstrom nearly won the game in the final seconds of overtime, skating free with the puck with the clock ticking down. His spin move around a back-checking Koivu in front of the net put him in position for the game-winner, but Dubnyk sprawled to stop the shot with his right arm when the horn sounded.
"I didn't realize the clock was that low," Dubnyk said. "I think Mikko did a real nice job coming over at him. He makes a nice move, but Mikko put some good pressure on him and then it's up to me to stay with him there."
Minnesota plays the second of a back-to-back against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday at United Center.
Carolina hosts the Buffalo Sabres at PNC Arena on Tuesday, their first home game since March 8.