Wild Top Rangers 5-2 In Dubnyk's Return
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Devan Dubnyk made 21 saves in his return to action and Mikko Koivu had two goals and an assist for the Minnesota Wild in a 5-2 win over the New York Rangers on Thursday night.
Dubnyk missed four games with a groin strain. In his first game back, he helped the Wild to their ninth straight game with a point (6-0-3).
Koivu has scored in three straight games. Matt Dumba, Jason Pominville and Chris Porter also tallied for Minnesota.
New York lost starting goaltender Antti Raanta in the first period when he was hit in the forehead area of his facemask by a slap shot from Wild defenseman Marco Scandella. Raanta allowed one goal on four shots in 6 minutes, 11 seconds.
Henrik Lundqvist relieved Raanta and stopped 27 of 31 shots. Dominic Moore and Ryan McDonagh scored for the Rangers, who have lost four of five.
New York defenseman Keith Yandle earned a penalty shot just 49 seconds into the game, but Dubnyk made a glove save on the shot attempt.
It was the lone instance of Dubnyk being tested early.
The Rangers first shot on goal other than the penalty shot came more than 13 minutes into the game. New York had scored at least four goals in three of their last four games, but Minnesota's defense continued its recent string.
The Wild have allowed nine goals in their last eight games, and just six in regulation during that span.
Dubnyk and Darcy Kuemper have played a big part in goal. Kuemper went 3-0-2 with a 1.32 goals-against average and .943 save percentage in place of Dubnyk.
Dubnyk's own shutout streak stretched to 165 minutes, 23 seconds before Moore scored his third of the season.
Minnesota, meanwhile, improved its offensive onslaught. The Wild had scored two or fewer goals in six straight games before Tuesday's 6-2 win against Vancouver.
NOTES: Jarret Stoll made his Minnesota debut against the team which waived him on Tuesday. The Wild claimed Stoll, the 12-year veteran and two-time Stanley Cup winner, this week after he was waived by New York. He played 29 games in his first season with the Rangers. .. Lundqvist, who is ninth in the league in minutes among goaltenders, was supposed to have the night off with New York playing a back-to-back in Winnipeg on Friday. . D Dan Girardi (knee) missed his second straight game for the Rangers. C Derek Stepan (broken ribs) missed his 10t game. D Kevin Klein (strained oblique) missed his eighth game. Stepan and Klein could return Friday. . Wild C Erik Haula was scratched for the first time this season with Stoll joining the lineup.
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