Wild 3, Oilers 1
Wild 3, Oilers 1: Matt Cullen scored two goals and set up another as visiting Minnesota continued its road success against its Northwest Division rival.
Devin Setoguchi snapped a tie early in the third period and Niklas Backstrom made 27 saves for the Wild, who improved to 5-1-1 in their last seven visits to Edmonton.
Ryan Smyth scored on his 37th birthday and Devan Dubnyk stopped 25 shots for the Oilers, who fell to 1-3-0 on their season-high five-game homestand.
After a scoreless first period, Smyth gave Edmonton the lead at 12:26 of the second as he backhanded the puck into the net at the left post on a wraparound. Cullen forged a tie less than three minutes later, getting to a loose puck above the left faceoff circle and gaining a step on defenseman Mark Fistric before sliding a backhander between Dubnyk's pads.
Cullen helped put Minnesota ahead when he pounced on a turnover behind the net and backhanded the puck to Setoguchi, who beat Dubnyk from the doorstep at 2:20 of the third. The 36-year-old gave the Wild some breathing room with six minutes remaining as he put a wrist shot from the right circle inside the left post.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Backstrom improved to 23-3-1 lifetime against the Oilers. ... Minnesota RW Cal Clutterbuck was helped off the ice with 2:33 remaining in the third period after sustaining a knee-on-knee hit from Edmonton LW Taylor Hall, who received a five-minute major and game misconduct. ... The Oilers, who complete their homestand against Phoenix on Saturday before embarking on a nine-game road trip, fell to 1-3-2 in their last six at Rexall Place.