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Burns and Wild dump struggling Panthers

Sat 1st, March 2008

Sunrise, FL (Sports Network) - Brent Burns posted a goal and an assist to help the Minnesota Wild defeat the Florida Panthers, 3-2, at BankAtlantic Center.

Mikko Koivu and Stephane Veilleux also scored for the Wild, who completed a three-game road trip through the Southeast Division with a mark of 2-1-0. Niklas Backstrom stopped 32-of-34 shots to pick up his 25th win of the season.

"It's been a few games, just winning by a goal, and we'll take it because it's enough to win two points," said Wild coach Jacques Lemaire. "I talked to the guys about long shifts. We had a few, it gets the guys tired and then they can't recuperate and they're just slowing down. And, (we played) three games in four night, don't forget."

The Wild are now all alone atop the Northwest Division with 77 points. Calgary, who lost 3-1 at Anaheim on Friday, sits in second place with 75 points.

Steve Montador and Nathan Horton tallied for the Panthers, who have lost three straight, six of seven and eight of their last 10 games. Tomas Vokoun allowed three goals on 25 shots in defeat.

"Among a couple of other things, I think it was a case of us running out of time," said Montador. "We certainly had a third period like we needed to, but they're obviously not a team you want to give a two-goal lead to."

Each club generated 10 shots in the first period, but only Koivu's found the back of the net. With the Panthers caught in the offensive zone, Marian Gaborik piloted a 3-on-1 rush for Minnesota down the other end. Gaborik feathered a perfect pass from the right circle over the stick of Florida defenseman Karlis Skrastins to Koivu at the left circle and he one-timed the puck past Vokoun at 9:43 of the first.

Montador tied the score when he took a feed off the boards from Gregory Campbell and, while dashing down the right wing, shielded the puck from Minnesota defenseman Keith Carney before slipping it between the pads of Vokoun at 5:34 of the second.

Minnesota took advantage of another Panthers miscue to reclaim the lead 2:20 later. Off a failed dump-in, Burns caught Florida in a line change and hit Veilleux with a quick outlet pass, creating a 2-on-1 break. Veilleux skated down the left wing and fired a slapper high over the glove of Vokoun.

Burns' power-play marker made it a 3-1 game with 9:28 remaining in the frame.

In a spirited third period, the Panthers increased the physicality and applied relentless pressure, which resulted in 16 shots on goal and numerous scoring chances.

With Florida on the power play, Horton corralled a bouncing puck below the left circle and buried it behind Backstrom at the 6:02 mark.

The Panthers continued to pepper the Minnesota netminder and, in the final minute of regulation, pulled Vokoun in favor of an extra skater, but failed to net the equalizer.

Game Notes

Minnesota made its first appearance in Sunrise since a 4-3 win on October 24, 2003...Minnesota has won six straight against Florida after going winless in the first two meetings...The Wild has outscored the Panthers 25-11 in the eight meetings...Florida's four previous tilts against Northwest Division opponents this season were decided in a shootout...Ten of Minnesota's last 13 games have been decided by one goal...Florida has played in 39 one-goal games this season, going 17-14-8...Minnesota went 7-5-2 in the month of February, while Florida posted a record of 6-6-3...Florida visits the Islanders on Sunday...Minnesota hosts the Kings on Sunday.

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