Oilers 5, Wild 2
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored twice as the Edmonton Oilers ended a long losing skid in Minnesota, defeating the host Wild 5-2 in a Friday matinee.
The 18-year-old extended his lead in the rookie scoring race with another strong effort, and now has three goals and seven assists over his last four games.
The win helped the Oilers halt a 17-game losing streak in Minnesota dating back to 2007. Edmonton also avenges a pair of 2-1 shootout losses to the Wild last month.
Ryan Smyth opened the scoring for the Oilers 5:15 into the opening period, tapping home a Jordan Eberle centering pass for his 12th goal of the season. Nugent-Hopkins made it 2-0 before Minnesota responded, with Devin Setoguchi putting the Wild on the board with just 10 seconds remaining in the first period.
Pierre-Marc Bouchard drew Minnesota even at the nine-minute mark of the second, stripping Nugent-Hopkins of the puck before breaking in alone and beating Edmonton netminder Nikolai Khabibulin between the pads.
Taylor Hall restored Edmonton's lead with 4:31 left in the period, whacking a rebound of a Tom Gilbert shot into an open net with Minnesota goaltender Josh Harding out of position.
Shawn Horcoff made it a two-goal advantage 7:28 into the third period, scoring his fifth goal in the past six games. Nugent-Hopkins iced things with an empty-netter.