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Gaborik, Wild hand Blackhawks eighth straight loss

Jan 12, 2008 - 5:57 AM By Rory Spears PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Marian Gaborik helped the Minnesota Wild continue their dominance over the slumping Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night.

Gaborik scored two goals and sparked a three-goal second period as the Wild handed the Blackhawks their eighth consecutive loss with a 5-2 victory.

Matt Foy, Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Mark Parrish also tallied and Eric Belanger added two assists for Minnesota, which has won 12 of its last 13 meetings with Chicago.

"I don't know why we have so much success against Chicago," Gaborik said. "They have a good team, so hopefully we can keep going against them."

The Wild scored four goals on their first 10 shots of the contest on goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin. Gaborik, Minnesota's leading scorer, posted his fifth multi-goal performance of the season.

"It's not often we will get four goals on 10 shots," Gaborik said. "Early in the game, they came into our zone like a knife through butter, so we have things we have to get better at."

With the game knotted at 1-1, Gaborik gave the Wild the lead with 9:23 left in the second period. He took a pass at the blue line from Belanger, then skated into the left faceoff circle and beat Khabibulin to the glove side for his 23rd tally of the season.

"The last two nights make a great four points," Gaborik said. "I have been feeling good on the ice. I would like to keep this streak going."

Gaborik also added an empty-netter with 95 seconds remaining in the third to secure the win.

The last 48 hours have been kind to Gaborik. After the 25-year-old Slovakian was named to the Western Conference All-Star team for the second time in his career Thursday afternoon, Gaborik notched the decisive shootout goal in a 6-5 victory over the Detroit Red Wings later that night.

Josh Harding, who played 36 minutes in relief Thursday, made a season-high 41 saves for Minnesota in this one.

"The Blackhawks shot from everywhere," Harding said. "They got some rebounds, but for the most part, my defensemen were always there to clear away the loose pucks."

After Bouchard gave Minnesota a two-goal edge at 13:16 of the second with a power-play tally, Parrish increased the lead to 4-1 with exactly one minute left in the session, scoring his 13th goal of the season.

Defenseman Brent Sopel rejoined Chicago's lineup after missing seven games with a broken finger and scored the game's first goal. Martin Havlat also tallied, netting a man-advantage goal 71 seconds into the third.

"It's nice to be back, but it's not about my story," Sopel said. "It's about getting two points and ending this losing streak. It's been frustrating watching during this time. I'm glad to be back on the ice."

Sopel, playing his first game since December 26, intercepted fellow defenseman Brent Burns' clearing attempt at the Wild's blue line and fired a high wrist shot over Harding's shoulder at 3:49 of the first period.

Khabibulin stopped just 11 of the 15 shots he faced.

"To make the playoffs, you have to have good goaltending," Blackhawks coach Denis Savard said. "I hate to blame Khabby for the loss because their goalie played great. But he knows those were not good goals."

The Wild tied the game at 1-1 at 6:36 of the first period, when Foy scored his fourth goal of the season. Foy stole the puck behind the net from blue-liner Cam Barker and came out on the left side before putting it between Khabibulin's pads.

Minnesota center Mikko Koivu returned after missing 24 games with a broken leg and registered an assist on Bouchard's goal.

"It was great to have Mikko back," Gaborik said. "He is a big addition to our team and is working hard to elevate his game."