The Wild will leave the desert in a sunny disposition. After taking four days off from game action, Minnesota opened its three-game road trip Thursday night with a thoroughly encouraging 3-2 win over the Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz.
Losers in five straight, though one by shootout, the Wild snapped their streak and built themselves a nice foundation for a strong December.
The time off seemed to treat the Wild well. Or maybe temperatures in the 70s brightened their spirits. Or, simply, it may have been another step in the right direction for a team that seems always in search of a 60-minute effort.
Thursday night, to be sure, was just that -- with the emphasis on effort. The Wild started strong, outplayed the Coyotes convincingly at times, executed in the defensive end when Phoenix pressed, then held on during a few final frantic minutes.
"Guys played extremely hard tonight," Todd Richards said afterward. "It was one of those games where it was pretty easy sending guys over the boards."
BIG LINE BARKS
In terms of shakeups to his lines, Todd Richards seems least willing to break up Mikko Koivu, Andrew Brunette and Antti Miettinen. Nights such as Thursday may explain why.
The trio created odd-man rushes and individual mismatches that opened the game with a chance and led directly to all three Wild goals.
On the first, Koivu's ability to attack made the difference. He charged through the neutral zone and worked a quick give-and-go with Miettinen along the right wing. Koivu's pace and the snappy passing pushed Phoenix back on its heels and set up a two-on-one with Brunette. Brunette took a pass from Koivu, drove hard to the net with a few strides, then pulled a sharp backhand over Ilya Bryzgalov's glove.
Less than 7:00 in, the Wild was up, 1-0, on a team that had won nine of its previous 12 games.
