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Wild edge Ducks on Johnson's late goal

Dec 5, 2011 - 4:36 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Nick Johnson scored the game-winning goal late in the third period, as Minnesota downed Anaheim, 5-3, on Sunday.

Cam Fowler tied the game with a slap shot midway through the final period, but Johnson's tip-in with 5:31 remaining gave the Wild a 4-3 lead. Cal Clutterbuck added an empty-net goal to seal the team's fourth straight win.

"We have a group of guys that are not going to quit," said Minnesota coach Mike Yeo. "I thought our focus and execution were there."

Dany Heatley, Casey Wellman and Pierre-Marc Bouchard also scored for the Wild, who got 24 saves from Josh Harding.

Ryan Getzlaf and Saku Koivu both had a first-period goal for the Ducks, while Jonas Hiller made 31 saves in the loss.

Anaheim is 0-2 under new coach Bruce Boudreau. The ex-Capitals coach took over after Randy Carlyle was fired on Wednesday.

The Ducks held a 2-0 lead midway through the first courtesy of Getzlaf and Koivu, but the Wild scored three straight goals to grab the lead.

With four seconds remaining in the first, Heatley buried a slap shot on the power play for a 2-1 game.

Wellman's wrister tied it up at the 15:18 mark of the second and Bouchard scored with a high backhand 32 seconds later to put Minnesota on top.

"We have to play a full 60 minutes," said Boudreau. "In the second period we stood around and watched."

Midway through the third, Fowler pulled the Ducks even with a backhand. But Johnson crashed the net at the 14:29 mark and Clutterbuck's shot deflected off his skate and into the net front the game-winner.

Game Notes

This was the third of four meetings between the teams this season, with the Wild winning two of three thus far...Boudreau was fired by Washington on Monday.