Sunday, March 14, 2021 02:00 PM (ET)

Wild continue torrid stretch by dispatching Coyotes

Field Level Media
Mar 14, 2021

Kevin Fiala set up Nick Bonino's tiebreaking goal and later scored in Minnesota's three-goal third period as the Wild posted a 4-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday in St. Paul, Minn.

Victor Rask scored to snap a 10-game goalless drought and goalie Cam Talbot made 21 saves after shutting out Arizona on Friday.

Joel Eriksson Ek was awarded a goal -- his team-leading 11th -- after being pulled down while skating toward an empty net late in the third period.

The Wild have won seven straight at Xcel Energy Center and are 4-0-0 on their five-game homestand, which concludes Tuesday against the Coyotes.

Minnesota improved to 11-2-1 in its last 14 games and has won three of four against Arizona.

Phil Kessel scored in the first period and Antti Raanta stopped 31 of 34 shots for the Coyotes.

Arizona finally broke through against Talbot behind a strong forecheck by Lawson Crouse that resulted in his steal near the goaltender's net.

Held without a goal over his previous seven games, Kessel worked in an unassisted tally through traffic at 13:27 of the first period. Crouse's pass through the slot hit a stick and found Kessel, who scored his ninth goal of the season.

Minnesota evened the game at a goal apiece in the second period behind the clever passing between first-year sensation Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello, as well as the finishing touch by Rask.

Kaprizov, who recorded his first career hat trick Friday, slipped a pass to Zuccarello, who tried to bank the puck off Raanta's back. Rask came in and cleaned up the action with his sixth goal at 6:35.

Shortly after Arizona's third power play ended, Fiala zipped a pass from the neutral zone boards to spring Bonino. The center raced in on a breakaway to give Minnesota a 2-1 at 6:03 of the third period.

The Wild grabbed a 3-1 lead when Fiala tapped in defenseman Matt Dumba's pass for a tally on the man advantage at 11:10.

Arizona's Conor Garland dragged down Eriksson Ek with five seconds left for the final margin.

--Field Level Media

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