Wild Holds Breath, Tops Blue Jackets

It came down to a call to Toronto that secured a 2-1 victory for the Minnesota Wild over the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Xcel Energy Center on Saturday night.

The Blue Jackets (3-5-0) appeared to have scored the tying goal with just 11 seconds left in regulation. Left winger Rick Nash deflected a pass that slipped past Wild goalie Nicklas Backstrom that the referees signaled as a goal. However, upon further review by league officials in Toronto who were privy to several replays, it was determined that Nash's hockey stick blade was above his shoulders, and the goal was disallowed.

When the final horn sounded, Blue Jacket players were visibly frustrated with the reversed call, with one player banging his stick against the Wild goal until it split into two.

"We like to make it exciting," declared Wild coach Jacques Lemaire during the post-game press conference. "I didn't see the shot but I saw it go in the net. When I saw the replay, I thought [high-sticking] was obvious."

Center Pierre-Marc Buschard and winger Owen Nolan both scored for the Wild (5-0-1). Nolan, defenseman Marek Zidlicky and center Mikko Koivu tallied assists.

Rostislav Klesla scored the lone goal for Columbus. Backstrom recorded 25 saves.

Gaborik out: Wild winger Marian Gaborik was placed on Injured Reserve for a lower body injury. Because the placement was retroactive to Oct. 14, Gaborik could rejoin the team at any time when healthy.

Nearly deja vu: Had the Blue Jackets' goal stood at the end of the third period, the game would have been forced into overtime for the third consecutive game. The Wild let a two-goal lead slip away versus the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night, costing the team a point.

On tap: The Wild host Johnathan Toews and the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday evening at the Xcel Energy Center.