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Gaborik, Demitra fuel Wild

Jan 14, 2008 - 2:47 AM By Brian Hall PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) - The Minnesota Wild found something that worked against the Phoenix Coyotes - and kept going to it.

Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra each had a goal and an assist, and goaltender Josh Harding made 26 saves to record his third straight victory as the Wild defeated the Coyotes, 4-1, on Sunday.

James Sheppard and Eric Belanger also scored for Minnesota, which has won three straight games and seven in a row against the Coyotes.

Each of the Wild's first three goals came on wrist shots from the right faceoff circle which beat netminder Ilya Bryzgalov.

"Obviously, we talk," Demitra said. "When we shoot on their goalie, we know he is going down and we have to put everything high, on top of his shoulders. We did it. Every time you score a goal, everything just loosens up - and everything was much easier after."

Demitra opened the scoring midway through the second period.

The Slovakian skated into the offensive zone before settling in the right faceoff circle. He then quickly switched to his forehand and wristed a shot past a screened Bryzgalov for his ninth goal of the season.

"I thought the first goal wasn't a very good goal," Phoenix coach Wayne Gretzky said. "Bryzgalov is better than that. When you get behind, 1-0, in this rink against this team, they are tough. And that first goal kind of hurt us.

"We don't have enough firepower some nights to allow situations like that. And that was too bad, because I thought our first period was a really good road period."

It was a similar situation about four minutes later when James Sheppard doubled Minnesota's advantage.

After Matt Foy skated into the offensive zone, he dropped a pass between his legs for Sheppard, who wristed the puck past Bryzgalov for his third goal of the campaign.

"We moved the puck really well defensively," Wild coach Jacques Lemaire said. "When guys weren't ready, we moved it to our partner to skate with it, and made the right play. We looked a little fancy at times."

Two minutes into the third period, Eric Belanger gave the Wild a three-goal bulge in similar fashion.

Belanger skated into the offensive zone, stopped at the right faceoff circle and wristed a shot past a screened Bryzgalov for his 12th goal of the season.

Gaborik capped the Wild's scoring with just over eight minutes remaining in the period.

"We scored all nice goals, just try and shoot and surprise him," Gaborik said. "It was nice shots, basically almost highlights. It doesn't happen that often to us."

Captain Shane Doan scored the Coyotes' lone goal with 5:27 remaining in the third period, spoiling Harding's bid for his fourth career shutout.

Bryzgalov finished with 30 saves for Phoenix, which entered the game second in the league in road victories with 15.

"You obviously want to stay .500 on the road," Doan said. "I don't think we are too happy with the two games and the way we lost them. Tonight, you give them credit. Once they get that first goal, they are a tough team to beat. They got it, and sat back and waited for us."