Wild Reverses Skid Despite Injuries

Playing the Phoenix Coyotes (4-5-0) on Saturday was the cure for a Minnesota Wild team needing a victory following back-to-back losses. The Wild (7-2-1) defeated the Coyotes 3-2, despite losing defenseman Brent Burns to an upper-body injury during the pregame warm-up.

Eric Belanger, Benoit Pouliot and Mikko Koivu all scored for the Wild. Ollie Jokinen scored both goals--one on the power play and the other shorthanded--for the Coyotes.

In addition to Burns, Wild forwards Owen Nolan and Marian Gaborik also did not play.

"We've got half of our offense that is out," coach Jacques Lemaire said after the game. "That's a huge game for us. We were intense. Everyone played hard."

On tap: The Wild travel to San Jose to play the first-place Sharks (9-2-0) on Tuesday night.