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Gaborik, Skoula help Wild crown Kings in overtime

Mar 3, 2008 - 4:10 AM By Mike Weimerskirch PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) - After getting the 'C' stitched on his jersey, All-Star Marian Gaborik ended his scoring slump.

Gaborik netted his team-leading 34th goal in regulation and set up defenseman Martin Skoula's overtime game-winner as the Minnesota Wild recorded their third consecutive victory with a 2-1 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.

Niklas Backstrom made 27 saves for the Wild (37-24-5), who moved two points ahead of the idle Calgary Flames (34-23-9) in the Northwest Division with 16 games remaining for both clubs.

"I was very happy that we pulled it out, it's a good way to start the month," Gaborik said.

Skoula and Gaborik orchestrated a give-and-go, resulting in Skoula taking a centering feed at the edge of the crease and poking the puck between the pads of rookie goaltender Erik Ersberg with 75 ticks left in the extra session.

"Their forward wanted to push it down the wall and not give me the middle, so I kept skating," Skoula said. "(Gaborik) made a great pass to get it in front of the net."

It was just Skoula's third goal of the season and first game-winner since the 2005-06 campaign.

"In my career, this maybe is my No. 1 goal," Skoula said.

"It was good to see him finish it that way," Gaborik said. "I don't think he knew it was in, but when the light went on, it was hard to catch him."

Gaborik broke out of a five-game scoring slump in the second period, deflecting defenseman Brent Burns' wrister into the upper right corner to tie the contest at 1-1 at 4:59 of the second period. The goal came after 20 seconds of 6-on-5 pressure with a delayed penalty on the Kings.

Michael Cammalleri put the Kings ahead, 1-0, with 2:07 remaining in the first period, when he took a rebound off the end boards and banked a slap shot off Backstrom.

Ersberg gave the Kings a strong performance in his first career start, making 33 stops.

"I was excited to play, I've been waiting for a long time for the chance," Ersberg said.

"He looked very comfortable in the net," Kings coach Marc Crawford said. "He gave us a quality start."

Ersberg was helped out early by Patrick O'Sullivan, who cleared a loose puck from the crease after Gaborik's slap shot three minutes into the game.

"I didn't see who it was, but it was a big save," Ersberg said. "I'll have to thank him."

The Kings were also robbed of a great scoring opportunity in the second period when Burns dove to clear a loose puck from the Wild crease with All-Star Anze Kopitar closing in.

The Wild were inches away from taking the lead with six minutes remaining when Pavol Demitra hit the far goalpost on a rebound attempt while the Kings were shorthanded.

"It was our best hockey there in the third period and in overtime," Gaborik said. "In the first two periods, (the Kings) were more intense than we were."