Wild 5, Canucks 2
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Defenseman Jared Spurgeon scored a goal and added an assist as the Minnesota Wild defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 Monday to snap an eight-game losing streak and give John Torchetti a victory in his first game as interim coach.
Right wingers Nino Niederreiter and Justine Fontaine, left winger Zach Parise and center Charlie Coyle, on a power play, also scored for Minnesota (24-22-10). Center Erik Haula and defenseman Ryan Suter had two assists each for the Wild, who are 2-11-2 in their past 15 games.
Center Henrik Sedin had a power-play goal and an assist for Vancouver (22-22-12). Defenseman Chris Tanev also scored on the power play for the Canucks, who have lost five straight at home.
Vancouver goaltender Jacob Markstrom made 29 saves. Minnesota goaltender Devan Dubnyk stopped 24 stops.
Torchetti took over as Minnesota's interim coach when Mike Yeo was fired Saturday.
The Wild led 4-2 after two periods.
A Canucks turnover helped set up Fontaine's goal at 2:12 of the second. After right winger Linden Vey mishandled a clearing pass, Haula took the puck and skated into the Canucks zone. He passed to Fontaine, who made it 3-1 with his second goal in four games.
Henrik Sedin got Vancouver to within one at 10:17. His backhand from the side of the net hit Dubnyk's stick and slid between his legs.
Coyle restored the two-goal lead at 13:21. He took Spurgeon's pass and fired a shot that deflected off Tanev past Markstrom.
Minnesota outshot Vancouver 17-4 and led 2-1 after the first period.
Parise opened the scoring at 9:31. He flattened defenseman Matt Bartkowski with a check, picked up the loose puck, then fired a rocket over Markstrom's shoulder for his 18th goal of the season.
The Canucks tied the game at 15:29 on a power play. Henrik Sedin took a shot that Tanev deflected over Dubnyk.
It took the Wild just 1:17 to regain the lead. Haula fed Spurgeon a pass. His shot from just above the faceoff circle deflected off Bartkowski's stick and past Markstrom.
Niederreiter made it 5-2 at 16:48 of the third, scoring on a rebound.
NOTES: The Canucks' scratches were RW Adam Cracknell, D Yannick Weber and RW Emerson Etem. ... C Alex Friesen, recently called up from Utica of the AHL, became the eighth player to make his NHL debut for Vancouver this season. ... Canucks RW Alex Burrows dismissed reports he is prepared to waive the no-trade clause in his contract. ... The last time Vancouver scored more than three goals in a home game was a 5-2 win over Buffalo on Dec. 7. ... The Canucks face the Anaheim Ducks at home on Thursday. ... D Jared Spurgeon returned to the Wild lineup after missing three games with a deep bruise. ... Minnesota scratched LW Chris Porter, G Niklas Backstrom and D Nate Prosser. ... Wild G Devan Dubnyk's previous win was a 2-1 decision over Dallas on Jan. 9. ... The Wild play the second game of their three-game road trip Wednesday in Calgary.