StalockNJD

Wild.com's Dan Myers gives three takeaways from the Wild's 4-2 win against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Monday afternoon:

1. Minnesota came alive in the second period, scoring three-straight goals to erase a two-goal deficit.
The Wild fell behind 2-0 on a rebound goal by Stefan Noesen 4:17 in the game, as the slow start that plagued the team in the first carried over to the second period.
But Minnesota finally changed the momentum seconds after a power play expired when Mike Reilly's shot hit something in front of Devils goaltender Eddie Lack and popped in the air, landing near the goal line and sliding into the net for his second goal.
Less than five minutes later, it was Daniel Winnik fending off a defenseman then centering a pass for a crashing Joel Eriksson Ek, who made a heck of a play to get his blade on the puck for his second goal in as many games after going 50 contests without a goal.
Just 39 seconds after that, it was Chris Stewart beating Lack with a shot down the left-wing boards, giving the Wild its first lead of the night.
Nick Seeler, who committed his first NHL penalty in the first period, was credited with his first NHL point on Stewart's goal, as Minnesota turned the tables and led by one goal after 40 minutes.
2. All of that came after a less-than-ideal first period for the visitors.
After an adventurous trip to the rink that took nearly 90 minutes because of New York City traffic, the Wild took three penalties, was outshot 18-6 and out attempted 35-11 in a tough opening 20 minutes.
The Devils scored on their second power play, when Taylor Hall sniped a corner from the right faceoff circle through a pair of screens in front of goaltender Alex Stalock.
The goal extended Hall's League-best scoring streak (officially) to 13 games, and unofficially to 20 games, after he missed three games with a thumb injury in the middle of his streak. Amazingly, Hall has tallied at least one point in all 20 games he has played in 2018.
Still, despite the disastrous start, Minnesota escaped the first period within one shot of tying the game.
3. Making his first start since Feb. 3, Stalock was outstanding, especially early, in earning the victory.
Stalock surrendered four goals in two periods of play his last time out, then has had to stew on it for nearly three weeks. He was tested early and often by the Devils, who fired 18 shots on goal in the first 20 minutes. Fortunately for the Wild, just one got through, giving it the opportunity to stage the second-period rally it eventually would.
His best save of the night came 2:37 into the final period, when he robbed the red-hot Hall with the glove, preserving Minnesota's one-goal lead.
For Stalock, it was his ninth victory of the season and his first in exactly one month, when he stopped 37 shots in a win against the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 22.