Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scoreboard - Live Odds - Sporting Events - Live Lines

Belanger lifts Wild over Bruins

Sat 11th, October 2008

St. Paul, MN (Sports Network) - Eric Belanger scored twice to lead Minnesota over Boston, 4-3, at Xcel Energy Center.

Marc-Andre Bergeron and Antti Miettinen also scored for the Wild, who withstood a brief Boston rally in the third period to come away with the victory in their season opener.

Niklas Backstrom was strong, making 34 stops for the win.

"For sure, it feels good to get the first one," Backstrom said. "You don't have to think about it anymore. Everybody's looking for a good start to the season. It's going to be real tight again (the Northwest Division) this year."

Marc Savard tallied twice and Phil Kessel once for the Bruins, who were coming off a season-opening 5-4 win over Colorado on Thursday.

Manny Fernandez allowed all four goals on 26 shots for the loss in his return to Minnesota. The 34-year-old spent seven seasons with the Wild before being dealt to the Bruins prior to the 2007-08 campaign.

The Wild blitzed the visitors with a three-goal burst in the second to take a 4-1 lead.

Bergeron stashed home his first of the season, a power-play score, at 4:01 as he snuck a low shot from along the goal line past Fernandez. Miettinen followed with his initial tally at 10:19, then Belanger potted his second of the night at 12:28.

Savard converted a pass from Michael Ryder with 8:09 left in regulation to come within two, then emerged from a crowd to sneak one through traffic with 1:38 to play for a 4-3 game.

Fernandez went to the bench with 44 seconds remaining, and a delay of game call on Stephane Veilleux for shooting the puck over the glass with 15.7 to go put the Bruins up two men.

Backstrom steered away Ryder's chance with 10 seconds left, and time finally ran out on the visitors.

"When you have to get three, it's tough to do in the last 8 1/2 minutes of the game," said Bruins defenseman Dennis Wideman. "Minnesota's a team where it's very hard to come back from once they get any lead, let alone a three-goal lead. You can't just play the first and the third and expect to get away with it."

Boston picked up the game's first goal, early in the opening period. Patrice Bergeron's right-circle blast clanged off the crossbar and rebounded to Marco Sturm on the left side. He settled the disc and slipped it to Kessel on the right wing for a successful wrister at 8:03.

Belanger countered for Minnesota with 1:28 left in the first, putting home the rebound of Kim Johnsson's point shot for a power-play goal.

Game Notes

Minnesota won its seventh consecutive home opener...The clubs had not met since March 8, 2007, a 2-1 Minnesota victory in Boston...The Wild have won six of the last seven contests dating back to the 2001-02 season...Prior to the contest, the Bruins revealed that forward Chuck Kobasew is out indefinitely after suffering a broken leg Thursday in Denver...Bergeron's assist was his third point of the season, all without a goal...Ryder and P.J. Axelsson assisted on both of Savard's scores.

Where the players come to play and STAY.

Sports Information you need to win BIG.

Sports Contests – Think you know the game?

Poker Promotion

Find NC State basketball tickets at TickCo and watch the college basketball season wrap up with Final Four tickets!

Contact Us | Help | Site Map| Sport Links

Sportsbook Directory | Casinos Directory | Poker Room Directory | Racebook Directory | Partners Directory