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May 1 2014, 06:23 AM
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ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The unbeaten Chicago Blackhawks gave the Minnesota Wild a significant early season test of their upgraded team. They held up quite well, from the early goalie switch to the late-game fatigue. Matt Cullen scored 90 seconds into the game and again in a shootout to lift the Wild to a 3-2 victory on Wednesday, the first loss in seven games for the Blackhawks. "Games like this are how you build confidence in what youre doing as a team and start getting that belief that -- you know what? -- we can be a good team," said Cullen, who was scoreless in the first six games. "Its not just talk. Its not just on paper. Its getting some results." Cullens snap shot in the third round slipped between Corey Crawfords legs, and Chicagos Patrick Sharp then hit the crossbar. The Blackhawks and San Jose were the only teams to start 6-0 this year. The Wild improved to 4-1 at home, enjoying significant production from their second and third lines for the second straight night after a slow start by anyone not named Zach Parise, Dany Heatley or Mikko Koivu. The first line scored 10 of their first 13 goals, until Tuesdays win over Columbus. "Were not there yet by any means, but this team has shown that when were playing our game we can play with anybody. Scratch that: We can beat anybody," coach Mike Yeo said. "We spent very little time tonight talking about Chicago. This game was about ourselves." Goals by Andrew Shaw and Jonathan Toews early in the first period prompted the Wild to pull goalie Josh Harding for Niklas Backstrom. But Cal Clutterbuck also scored for the Wild, and Backstrom stopped all 28 shots he saw to help his tired teammates get to overtime. "Were not a playoff team. We want to be a playoff team," Backstrom said. "You measure yourself against the best. You see what they do. We know theres a lot of hard work ahead of us, and for sure it gives us confidence you can play against these guys." Crawford, off to a sharp start in his third season as Chicagos primary goalie, made 23 saves as the Blackhawks started a season-long six-game road trip. Theyve played five straight one-goal games. "Thats a great start, but the best thing about that is that were doing a great job of putting the last game behind us and just getting ready for the next one," Toews said. "Thats what weve got to keep doing." After putting 15 shots on net in the first period, the Wild had six over the remainder of regulation. They had one last prime opportunity when Sharp was penalized for hooking with 2:05 left, but the Blackhawks squelched the Minnesota power play for the fourth time -- and headed for overtime after the scoreless third period. The Wild had 83 seconds of a 5-on-3 late in the first period, but Crawford didnt budge, blocking Bouchards attempt at a chip-in from the edge of the crease by diving almost all the way across the goal mouth. Then in the second, they sputtered through a power play so lifelessly the crowd booed as it expired. The Blackhawks came into the game second in the NHL in penalty killing behind Boston. They have given up just one goal in 27 attempts and none in 19 situations on the road. "I thought we got better as the game went on," coach Joel Quenneville said. "I think in the first period we mightve been fortunate to get ahead, but at the same time the second part of the game we were in there a lot more and we didnt give up much. You go to a shootout, anything can happen." Yeo made the bold move of pulling Harding a mere 6 minutes, 45 seconds into the game. He faced only four shots. Harding, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis during the lockout, had a 24-save shutout of Dallas on Jan. 20 but gave up five goals at Detroit last Friday. "Its not a decision Im sitting here feeling good about," Yeo said, adding: "I know that hes OK. Its not because of anything bigger. Lets be fair to him. We havent had very much practice time at all." Backstrom didnt need it, apparently. "Weve got to ... take pucks to the net. Get some traffic," Shaw said. "I didnt think we did a good job of that, and thats something were going to work on." NOTES: Wild D Tom Gilbert, who didnt score and had just five assists in 20 games last season after his trade from Edmonton to Minnesota, has two goals and four assists in the last four games. He leads the Wild with 17 blocked shots. ... The Blackhawks dont play at home again until Feb. 12 and will have 10 of their first 12 games on the road. Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping . 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The level-headed skipper said all along his young, powerful hitters would eventually put things together. Whether that was wishful thinking or well-placed confidence, Melvin was right. Yoenis Cespedes had his first career four-hit game, including a homer and three RBIs, and the Athletics beat the Minnesota Twins 9-4 on Sunday to complete a three-game series sweep. wholesale nfl jerseys . Quesne finished with four straight birdies to lead at 9 under. Danny Willett of England shot a second straight 67 to trail the leader. Fog delayed the start at the Crans-sur-Sierre club, and poor visibility ended play with two groups still to finish their rounds.The Montreal Canadiens have signed free agent defenceman Francis Bouillon one-year $1.5 million contract. The 36-year-old defender scored four goals and added seven assists in 66 games with the Nashville Predators in 2011-12. This signing marks Bouillons second tour of duty with the Canadiens, who originally signed him in 1998.dddddddddddd In 676 career games between the Canadiens and Predators, scoring 29 goals and 105 assists. He played out the final season of a two-year deal he signed with the Predators in 2010 last season worth an average annual value of $1.35 million. ' ' '
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