Wild 2, Maple Leafs 1
Thomas Vanek extended his point streak to eight games with a goal and an assist as visiting Minnesota completed a sweep of the two-game season series.
Charlie Coyle also scored for the Wild, who maintained their one-point lead over Winnipeg for the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Devan Dubnyk made 35 saves to improve to 23-6-1 in his 31st consecutive start since being acquired from Arizona on Jan. 14.
Defenseman Jake Gardiner netted the lone goal for the Maple Leafs, whose losing streak reached six games. Jonathan Bernier turned aside 30 shots as Toronto fell to 6-27-3 since the beginning of January.
Coyle gave Minnesota the lead with 62 seconds remaining in the first period, depositing a loose puck on the doorstep inside the right post. After a scoreless middle session, Vanek took a backhand pass from the right faceoff circle by defenseman Ryan Suter and unleashed a shot from the slot that trickled between the pads of Bernier at 9:08 of the third to make it 2-0.
The Maple Leafs halved the deficit with 6:24 left, when Gardiner swooped into the crease to tap in a loose puck after Joffrey Lupul's blast from the top of the right circle sneaked between Dubnyk's pads. Dubnyk slammed the door afterward, however, as Toronto outshot Minnesota 18-5 in the session.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Minnesota has earned a league-high 43 points (21-5-1) since the All-Star break. ... The Wild improved to 2-6-0 all-time at Air Canada Centre. ... Vanek has collected six goals and four assists during his point streak.