Wild score seven, avoid three-game losing streak

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Zach Parise scored the tiebreaking goal with 5:07 remaining in the third period, and the Minnesota Wild defeated the Florida Panthers 7-4 at BB&T Center on Friday.
Eric Staal had two goals and an assist, and Jason Zucker and Jason Pominville scored for the Wild (43-17-6), who haven't lost three straight in regulation this season.
"I thought we played well," Parise said. "We didn't play well the last two. But I think that means we've set the standard pretty high when it feels like panic sets in when we lose two games in a row. That means we're doing some good things this year."

Mikael Granlund and Charlie Coyle scored empty-net goals, and Jonas Brodin had two assists for Minnesota. Darcy Kuemper made his first start since Feb. 28 but was pulled for Devan Dubnyk to start the third period after allowing three goals on 28 shots.
WATCH: All Wild vs. Panthers highlights
Minnesota lost 2-1 to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday and 4-1 at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.
"I wanted to get this win as bad as any of them," Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. "I thought it was important for our team to get this win because the next [four] games we've [got the] Chicago [Blackhawks], Washington [Capitals] and the [New York] Rangers. You didn't want anything to spill over, so my thought is if this was the World Series or something, you've got your best pitcher in the bullpen you're going to use him."
Jonathan Marchessault, Mark Pysyk, Jaromir Jagr and Aleksander Barkov scored for the Panthers (29-26-11), who have lost four straight and seven of their past eight (1-6-1). James Reimer, making his third consecutive start with Roberto Luongo out because of a hip injury, made 39 saves.
"It's frustrating," Pysyk said. "It could have gone either way. It was close till near the end. These are the ones we need to win."
Barkov gave Florida a 4-3 lead at 2:57 of the third period when he scored into an open net after Pysyk's dump-in bounced off Dubnyk's stick and in front of the net.

Staal made it 4-4 at 5:24 with a rebound after Reimer stopped Marco Scandella's backhand.
Zucker made it 1-0 at 7:50 of the first period when he tipped Brodin's shot from the point before Marchessault tied it 1-1 at 14:22, seven seconds into a Florida power play.
Pysyk gave Florida a 2-1 lead at 18:11 with a wrist shot from the slot before Staal tied it 2-2 at 8:07 of the second period when he one-timed Nino Niederreiter's pass in front of the net.
The Wild took a 3-2 lead at 10:08 when Pominville got to a loose puck in front of the net with Reimer on his back after making a save. Jagr tied it 3-3 when he skated behind the Minnesota net and his turnaround shot went in off Kuemper's stick.
"First of all, two points is great," Boudreau said. "Both teams came coming back and you just never knew. It was an entertaining game, but it's one of those that make coaches' hearts stop."

Goal of the game

Parise scored after Reimer couldn't handle Brodin's shot from the point after it was deflected by Pominville.

Save of the game

Florida had some pressure leading 2-1 early in the second period when Trocheck made a cross-ice pass to Aaron Ekblad for a one-timer from the left circle, but Kuemper slid over to make the save.

Highlight of the game

Pominville's goal came off a wild sequence that began with an innocent-looking shot on Reimer, who went down after making the save while players from both teams unsuccessfully tried to get at the puck. Pominville eventually skated in and shot over Reimer, and the goal was allowed after the Panthers challenged for goalie interference.

Unsung performance of the game

Wild center Martin Hanzal had a game-high five hits and led Minnesota with three blocked shots in 16:40 of ice time.

They said it

"There were a lot of funky goals at times both ways tonight. Credit our group for continuing to attack and push and stay with the game. We managed to do that tonight." -- Wild center Eric Staal
"Obviously it could have gone both ways, but we always manage to find a way to not win hockey games. Obviously there's something we're not doing right, especially me. It's a bad game defensively. Everybody needs to help each other and try to pick each other up. We need to turn that boat around." -- Panthers forward Jonathan Marchessault

Need to know

The Panthers killed three Wild power plays and are 29-for-29 in their past 12 games. Florida leads the NHL in penalty kill percentage (.866). ... Panthers coach Tom Rowe split the first line of Jagr, Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau when he put Reilly Smith with Jagr and Barkov. Huberdeau skated on a line with Trocheck and Colton Sceviour.

What's next

Wild: At the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday (12:30 p.m. ET; NBC, TVA Sports, NHL.TV)
Panthers: At the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SUN, FS-F, NHL.TV)