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Gaborik's late overtime tally lifts Wild past Predators

Feb 18, 2008 - 5:34 AM By Brian Hall PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- All-Star Marian Gaborik did not want to have to hang around for a shootout.

Gaborik scored two goals - including the game-winner with five seconds left in overtime - and set up another as the Minnesota Wild edged the Nashville Predators, 5-4, on Sunday night.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard had a tally and an assist, and Pavol Demitra and defenseman Kim Johnsson each added two assists for the Wild, who extended their lead in the Northwest Division to six points.

As time was fading in the extra session, Demitra started a 1-on-1 rush down the ice. Gaborik, known for his speed, jumped in on the play and Demitra connected with him on a saucer pass over the defender's stick.

Gaborik slapped the one-timer past goaltender Chris Mason with just five ticks left on the clock for his team-leading 32nd goal of the season.

"I looked up and it was like 20 seconds left on the clock and Pavol got the puck," Gaborik said. "I just tried to race over the defenseman and Pavol made a beautiful dish wide open for a huge goal."

Minnesota is now 25-0-1 when leading after two periods.

"Every time those guys get the puck, especially when they are 2-on-1, and the right guys got it, we get a little excited," Wild right wing Mark Parrish said. "It was a big win. It was a little frustrating on our bench when they tied it up. We made some mistakes down the stretch we just can't make, especially in the third period when we have a two-goal lead."

The Wild took a 3-1 lead into the final session but Martin Erat cut the deficit to 3-2 at 4:05 of the third period when he scored his 18th goal of the season.

Gaborik, however, scored on a delayed penalty just 76 seconds later to restore the Wild's two-goal advantage.

Bouchard skated the puck behind the Predators' net and found Gaborik coming across the blue line. The Slovakian right wing deked Mason, who went down, and then slid the puck by the netminder's left pad.

Defenseman Ryan Suter made it 4-3 at 8:54 with his sixth of the season. Goaltender Niklas Backstrom had appeared to make the initial save - and with a glove on the puck - was hoping for a whistle, but the puck came free and went into the goal after Backstrom's glove was hit twice by Alexander Radulov and Suter.

"It was good for us, we would like to have two points, but we got one," Suter said. "I guess we are lucky to get out of here with one."

Defenseman Shea Weber, who scored the game-winner in overtime on Saturday, then evened the contest at 4-4 with 5:55 left on a power play when he blasted a one-timer through a screen and past Backstrom. Radulov appeared to be in the crease interfering with the netminder, but no penalty was called and the goal stood.

"The biggest thing is we battled through it," Backstrom said. "It was tough for our team, but we could battled through that and take two points. That is the only thing that matters."

Backstrom made 24 saves as the Wild improved to 4-1-0 in their last five games. All four of the victories during that stretch have come beyond regulation.

"We have to know how to play with a lead," Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire said. "I call it comfortable, but it's never comfortable. A two-goal advantage, you have to know how to play."

Jerred Smithson opened the scoring for Nashville, but Minnesota responded with goals from blue-liner Petteri Nummelin, Parrish and Bouchard to take a 3-1 edge.

Mason turned aside 23 shots for the Predators, who are 6-2-2 over their last 10 contests.

"I didn't think we had a real detailed game today," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "But, being down after two periods, and coming out with a point against Minnesota who protects leads as well as anybody in the league, that's a big point.

"We were down twice by two goals in the third period. We showed a little more resiliency and character that we do have. But at the same time, we turned the puck over too many times and played into what the Wild do, which is counter on those turnovers."