GLENDALE, Ariz., March 1 (UPI) — Two goals from Dany Heatley helped Minnesota build a 4-1 lead Thursday and the Wild survived a late Phoenix charge to down the Coyotes 4-3.
Minnesota won for the fourth time in five games with Niklas Backstrom making 25 saves to collect the victory.
Heatley scored late in the first period and early in the second to stake the Wild to a 3-0 lead. Jared Spurgeon’s power-play tally with 3:58 left in the middle stanza gave Minnesota its 4-1 advantage heading into the final 20 minutes.
Things heated up, however, when Keith Yandle scored a fluke goal for Phoenix with 4:39 to play and Shane Doan produced a shorthanded tally with 59 seconds remaining.
Backstrom then stopped the only other shot the Coyotes got off to preserve the victory.
Mike Smith allowed four goals on 19 shots and was removed after two periods in favor of Jason LaBarbera.
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