Devils 2 - 6 Wild
Final
  for this game

Vanek, Wild beat up on Devils

Mar 11, 2015 - 4:28 AM St. Paul, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Thomas Vanek scored twice to lead the Minnesota Wild in a 6-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

Chris Stewart and Jared Spurgeon each posted a goal and an assist while Sean Bergenheim and Jason Pominville also scored for the Wild, who have won six of their last seven games. Devan Dubnyk gave up two goals on 32 shots.

"This whole stretch there's been games where we've had four lines generating," said Minnesota head coach Mike Yeo. "We got up tonight and forced them to chase a little more and when you can do that it leads to more chances."

Dainius Zubrus and Scott Gomez each had a goal for the Devils, who had won three of four coming into the contest.

Cory Schneider allowed five goals on 30 shots before being pulled early in the third. Keith Kinkaid gave up a goal on eight shots in relief.

"We let him down in front of the net and stuff," said Gomez. "He's one of the best in the world and this year he's been awesome. We just didn't help him out at all."

Minnesota grabbed a 1-0 lead with 1:03 to play in the first as Bergenheim snapped home a rebound from in front, and it was a 2-0 game 13 seconds into the second when Stewart backhanded home a rebound from in front.

The Wild took a 3-0 lead four minutes later as the team controlled the puck for an extended time in the New Jersey end and finished it off when Mikael Granlund found Spurgeon for a one-timer from the right circle.

New Jersey finally got on the board halfway through the second as Zubrus' one- timer from the slot found the back of the net, but Vanek answered three minutes later as he finished off a rush play with a shot down low.

Pominville made it a four-goal game 1:18 into the third with his 16th of the year, and Vanek notched his 16th of the year seven minutes later for a 6-1 edge.

Gomez scored moments after Vanek's goal to account for the final score.

Game Notes

Minnesota hosts Anaheim on Friday ... New Jersey plays in Colorado on Thursday ... The Wild were 1-for-4 on the power play and didn't commit a penalty in the game ... Zach Parise had two assists for the Wild and Steve Bernier had two helpers for the Devils.






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