Wild 6 - 0 Islanders
Final
  for this game

Wild blank Islanders; Moulson scores twice in return

Mar 19, 2014 - 3:26 AM Uniondale, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Matt Moulson scored two goals against his former team and Ilya Bryzgalov made 36 saves in the Minnesota Wild's 6-0 rout of the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

Moulson, who also had an assist, returned to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum for the first time since the Islanders traded him to the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 27, 2013 in a deal that brought Thomas Vanek to New York. Vanek (Montreal Canadiens) and Moulson were sent elsewhere at the trade deadline. Moulson scored 118 goals over the course of four-plus seasons with the Islanders.

"I was (in New York) for a long time and this team had a big place in my heart," Moulson said of returning to face his former squad. "The fans are great supporters. It was pretty emotional."

Justin Fontaine had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who snapped a two-game skid. Jared Spurgeon, Mikael Granlund and Clayton Stoner also lit the lamp.

Bryzgalov made his second start in a Minnesota uniform since he was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers. Bryzgalov's previous outing with the Wild was a 3-2 shootout loss on March 9 to St. Louis in which he made 20 saves.

Anders Nilsson gave up all six goals on 22 shots for the Islanders, who lost defenseman Brian Strait to a broken left hand in the second period.

"Nothing is going to come easy for us," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. "We had some pretty good chances. It just seemed like when we gave them a chance, with the skill that they have, it was in the back of our net."

New York outshot Minnesota by a 16-6 margin in the first period, but it was the Wild who scored twice.

Minnesota drew first blood at the 12:23 mark when Moulson tapped one in from the top of the crease.

Spurgeon's one-timer from the top of the right circle at 15:57 made it a 2-0 game.

Granlund lit the lamp at 16:02 of the middle stanza. He one-timed Jason Pominville's pass from behind the net past Nilsson.

Stoner found the back of the net on a breakaway at 4:56 of the third. It was his first goal since April of 2012.

Fontaine and Moulson also scored in the final frame.

Bryzgalov stopped 12 shots in the third to record his second shutout of the season and the 32nd of his career.

Game Notes

Minnesota had lost four straight to the Islanders ... Wild forward Mikko Koivu had three assists to surpass Marian Gaborik for the all-time points lead in franchise history ... Islanders defenseman Kevin Czuczman made his NHL debut.






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