ANAHEIM, Calif., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Matt Johnson scored the game-winning goal Wednesday night and defenseman Willie Mitchell added two assists as the Minnesota Wild beat the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 5-3.
Johnson scored 3:53 into the third period to give the Wild a 4-1 lead. While screening Jean-Sebastien Giguere, a slap shot by Mitchell hit Johnson's shin pad and bounced over the goaltender's pad.
The Ducks, sparked by goals by Paul Kariya and
Samuel Pahlsson 22 seconds apart, to pull within 4-3 with just over 8 1/2 minutes to play.
Antti Laaksonen registered an empty-net tally in the final minute of play to seal the win for Minnesota, which is 2-1-1 in its last four games.
The Wild's offense was carried by their defensemen, who tallied three of the team's goals. Brad Bombadir snapped a 104-game goal drought dating back to Jan. 11, 2000.
Goalie Dwayne Roloson made 18 saves and Jason Marshall and Nick Schultz had the other goals for Minnesota.
Kariya finished with two goals for his fifth multiple goal game of the season and Oleg Teverdovsky had two assists for Anaheim, which has lost three of its last four games since posting a six-game winning streak.
