Wild 3, Panthers 2 (SO)
WILD 3, PANTHERS 2 (SO): Erik Christensen and Matt Cullen scored in the shootout and Dany Heatley had two assists to lift Minnesota over host Florida.
Minnesota’s first two shooters scored in the shootout and Niklas Backstrom denied Kris Versteeg and Sean Bergenheim to seal the victory and hand Florida its fourth straight loss.
Backstrom made 40 saves for his 16th win of the season and has stopped 88 of the last 90 shots he’s faced in the last two games.
Kyle Brodziak and Cullen tallied in regulation for the Wild.
With the Panthers trailing 2-1, Bergenheim spun and fired past Backstrom from close range with 4:12 remaining in the third period to knot the game at 2-2 and help the Panthers earn a crucial point.
Mikael Samuelsson scored the opening goal of the game and added an assist for a two-point performance.
Minnesota scored more than one goal in a road game for the first time since Jan. 24.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Wild captain Mikko Koivu didn’t play for the third straight game due to an undisclosed injury. … Stephen Weiss played in his 614th game for Florida, breaking Radek Dvorak’s club record. … Minnesota snapped a three-game losing streak on the road…