"It's hard to say anything after a game like that," Wild center Erik Haula said. "It wasn't anything at all what we wanted. I thought we got better in the end but it wasn't even close to what we want to bring."
The Devils wasted little time in building an early lead in the first as Smith-Pelly and Sislo scored in a span of 51 seconds in the opening 1:34 for a 2-0 lead.
Smith-Pelly got to a rebound at the left post and scored off his backhand at :43. Sislo, who was recalled from Albany of the American Hockey League on March 8, scored his first NHL goal in his 32nd game off a backhand in the slot at 1:34. The goal was the result of great pressure by Sergey Kalinin on the forecheck in the right corner, enabling Sislo to get loose down the middle of the ice.
"I don't think it was them, it was more us," Wild coach John Torchetti said. "We didn't win the battles along the wall on that first goal and, on the second goal, we couldn't take a hit to get a puck out. That's what the game comes down to. We need more commitment in those areas; a total team concept."