(Sports Network) - Petr Sykora had a goal and an assist as the Minnesota Wild downed the New York Rangers, 3-2, at Xcel Energy Center.

Antti Miettinen and Eric Belanger each had a goal for the Wild, who had dropped three of four coming into the game. Niklas Backstrom stopped 18 shots in the win.

Marc Staal and Dane Byers each lit the lamp for the Rangers, who have dropped five of their last six games. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 29 shots in the loss.

"We're costing ourselves with our mistakes," Rangers forward Vinny Prospal said. "That's very much what's been the story on the island [in a loss to the Islanders on Wednesday] and tonight, in here. Because when we start to gain a little bit of momentum, we let the other team capitalize on our mistakes."

New York Rangers forward Marian Gaborik was not in the lineup for his return to Minnesota as the winger sat out his second straight game with a leg injury. He had spent his first eight seasons with the Wild prior to signing with the Rangers as a free agent in the past offseason.

Minnesota got on the board with 1:29 to play in the first. A turnover at the New York blueline resulted in Andrew Brunette getting the puck behind the net. Brunette dished it to the low right side for Mikko Koivu, who immediately sent it to the left side where Sykora one-timed it home.

"I just put it back behind the net. [Brunette] made a nice play to Mikko, he slid it kind of across the crease. I had an open net, so I was happy the puck went in," Sykora said.

The Rangers tied the game at the 5:33 mark of the second. Wade Redden kept the puck in at the blueline and immediately sent a shot on net. Backstrom made the stop, but Byers was all alone in front and he jammed the rebound home for his first career goal.

A bit over two minutes later, though, the Wild regained the lead as Belanger's wrister found the back of the net for his third goal of the year and a 2-1 lead.

In the final minute of play in the second, Miettinen's first goal of the season gave Minnesota a 3-1 lead heading into the second intermission.

Just 5:01 into the third, New York made it a one-goal game as Prospal sent a pass from the low right corner to the top of the left circle for Staal, who took a stride in and lasered a wrister home.

The Rangers pulled Lundqvist late in the game for an extra attacker, but were unable to net the equalizer.

Game Notes

New York hosts Boston on Sunday...Minnesota plays in Pittsburgh on Saturday...Minnesota has won four of the last six games against New York.





Copyright 2009 The Sports Network
All rights reserved

 Email To Friend