ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Wes Walz scored two goals and Antti Laaksonen had two assists Sunday night as the Minnesota Wild snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues.
After giving the Wild a lead less than two minutes into the game, Walz completed his fifth career two-goal effort at 7:33 with his 11th of the season.
But things got ugly in the latter stages of the game when Walz and Pavol Demitra became involved in a jabbing exchange behind the Minnesota net. Entering the fracas to protect his teammate, St. Louis' Keith Tkachuk cross-checked Walz to the throat area, earning a five-minute major and a match penalty for attempt to injure.
While Walz was not hurt, Tkachuk could face a suspension after the NHL reviews the infraction.
Defenseman Filip Kuba added a shorthanded tally and Manny Fernandez stopped 21 shots for the Wild, who scored more than two goals for the first time in seven games.
Demitra netted the lone goal for the Blues, who have dropped three straight and five of their last six.
