Wild beat Canadiens 4-1, now even with Avalanche in Wild Card standings

It took a little bit for the Wild to get going after it returned for the second period. It didn't get its first shot on goal in the period until close to eight minutes in when Vanek almost found the other door on a wrap-around try. Then on the power play, after it looked like it would good the way of failure because it took 1:20 of the two minute power play to actually establish itself in the offensive zone, Mikael Granlund found a puck on the doorstep for his second of the game. Nino Niederreiter was causing havoc out front, and Vanek found the puck on the left side of the goalie crease and pushed it through the chaos in front to Granlund.

Dubnyk had to be strong in the third period as the Habs made a push. He made two big right pad saves to keep the lead at two goals. Minnesota killed off both penalties it took in the game, and Dubnyk was spectacular as the game went on. With the net empty on the other end, and with the Minnesota Golden Gophers taking the Big Ten regular season championship back in Minneapolis, former Gopher Erik Haula scored in the empty net to cap off a big road victory.