Wild 4, Penguins 0
Cody McCormick recorded a goal and an assist while Ilya Bryzgalov posted his third shutout of the season as host Minnesota won for just the second time in seven games (2-2-3).
Erik Haula, captain Mikko Koivu and Stephane Veilleux also scored for the Wild, who remained five points ahead of Dallas for the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Charlie Coyle and Zach Parise each notched two assists while Bryzgalov made 20 saves to improve to 5-0-3 with two shutouts in nine games since being acquired from Edmonton.
Jeff Zatkoff turned aside 16 shots for the Metropolitan Division-champion Penguins, who were shut out for the sixth time this season.
Minnesota went ahead early as Haula got past several defenders and chased down a bouncing puck after Matt Moulson lifted it toward the net from the neutral zone before backhanding it past Zatkoff 1:42 into the game. Koivu doubled the lead just over seven minutes later, racing down the right wing and cutting to the top of the slot to beat the netminder with a wrist shot.
Veilleux made it 3-0 with 5:04 left in the opening period as Zatkoff was unable to glove his shot from the slot. McCormick completed the scoring at 6:24 of the second by burying a feed from Parise for his first goal in 10 games with Minnesota.
GAME NOTEBOOK: McCormick, who had gone without a point since being acquired from Buffalo with Moulson on March 5, ended his 25-game goal-scoring drought. He netted his only other tally this season on Nov. 5 against San Jose. ... Pittsburgh rookie D Olli Maatta was scratched with an undisclosed injury. ... Bryzgalov, who registered his 33rd career shutout, blanked the New York Islanders in his second start for Minnesota on March 9.