Wild 2, Canucks 0
WILD 2, CANUCKS 0: Josh Harding made 33 saves and Erik Christensen scored for the fourth consecutive contest as host Minnesota snapped a three-game losing skid with a rare victory over Vancouver.
Kyle Brodziak had an empty-net goal and an assist to reach a career-high 39 points for the Wild, who won for only the second time in 10 games (2-7-1) and twice in their last nine meetings with the Canucks.
Cory Schneider finished with 32 saves for the Northwest Division-leading Canucks, who fell for the fifth time in seven games (2-5-0). Vancouver sits six points behind the NHL-leading St. Louis Blues.
Christensen opened the scoring with only 24 seconds remaining in the first period after a brilliant backhanded feed from Brodziak. Christensen promptly wristed the puck past Schneider for his first career goal in seven contests versus Vancouver.
Playing in his first game since leaving a March 8 contest with an undisclosed injury, Harding made the slim advantage hold up. He preserved his second shutout of the season and sixth career by stopping all 10 shots in the third period.
Harding has collected both his career victories versus Vancouver this season. The 27-year-old made 24 saves in a 5-1 victory over the Canucks on Nov. 3.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Minnesota's victory was only its second in six meetings with its Northwest Division rival. ... Schneider dropped to 9-2-1 this season and 5-3-0 in his career versus Minnesota. ... After missing two games because of a personal issue, Manny Malhotra returned to ice for the Canucks.