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Wild erase three-goal deficit, edge Sharks in thriller

Mar 6, 2009 - 7:23 AM SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- Mikko Koivu scored a pair of goals, including the game-winning goal with 16 seconds remaining in overtime as the Minnesota Wild erased a three-goal deficit and edged the San Jose Sharks, 4-3, on Thursday.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard and defenseman Marek Zidlicky also tallied and blue-liners Brent Burns and Kim Johnsson each notched two assists while All-Star Niklas Backstrom stopped 32 shots for the Wild, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

"Especially when you're trailing, 3-0, and coming back we know how important the points are for us," Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire said. "Just to stay in, have a chance to make the playoffs and the teams we'll play in the future are good teams.

"Most of them are fighting for a playoff spot so its huge for us. Hopefully we can build from this win and keep playing well."

Joe Pavelski netted two goals, Ryane Clowe also scored and Milan Michalek set up all three tallies for the Sharks, who have dropped three in a row.

"When you are up 3-0 you have to put teams away," San Jose coach Todd McLellan said. "Whether that means getting a fourth or playing well enough defensively that you don't let a team back in. We allowed them to gain confidence and momentum. Their gain was our loss. From there it was anybody's game."

Koivu secured the victory with a slap shot from the low slot, recording his 18th goal of the season.

"I guess you can be happy for that, I mean (down) 3-0 and we've talked about it too," Koivu said. "Whatever happens, try to keep it the same momentum and that's what we did. We'll take that and its a big win for us as a team. To come back from that its a great feeling and it shows it was a big pickup for the whole team."

Pavelski opened the scoring with 8:37 remaining in the first period and Clowe doubled the bulge less than four minutes later with a wrist shot for his 22nd goal of the season.

Pavelki gave San Jose a 3-0 lead at nine minutes of the second, but Minnesota silenced the potent Sharks' offense the rest of the way to spark its comeback.

"It was unacceptable how we played the second half," Pavelski said. "Losing is not fun and winning's awesome. Winning's the best and its contagious and we've got to push as much as we can."

Koivu cut the deficit with 2:08 left in the second and Bouchard netted his 15th tally of the campaign with 42 seconds remaining in the session.

Zidlicky forged a 3-3 tie with 7:37 remaining in the third, taking a pass from Burns and backhanding the puck, which skidded down the ice and in between the legs of Brian Boucher.

"It was a flip, it bounced, kicked to the side, missed my glove and went in," said Boucher, who made 32 saves. "We played good in my opinion until it was 3-0, and then we kind of took the foot off the gas and we weren't looking for number four really. They ended up getting two on us in the second and a fluke one in the third."