Wild 4, Devils 2
Kyle Brodziak scored a pair of goals to power the surging Minnesota Wild to a 4-2 victory over the visiting New Jersey Devils on Friday night.
Dany Heatley and Casey Wellman sandwiched goals around Brodziak's first tally in a three-goal first-period outburst as the Wild registered their third consecutive victory and sent Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur to the second-shortest outing of his career.
Josh Harding relieved starter Niklas Backstrom and turned aside all 22 shots he faced as Minnesota improved to 8-2 in its last 10 games.
Brodeur was yanked after allowing three goals – in a span of 5:03 – on four shots in losing for the second time in 11 meetings against the Wild. He was torched for six goals at Colorado on Wednesday.
Wellman's first goal of the season KO'd Brodeur at the 8:17 mark as the Wild won their NHL-leading 10th game after surrendering the first goal of the game.
Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk scored first-period goals for the Devils, who tumbled to their third straight defeat despite outshooting Minnesota 31-16.