NHL: Minnesota 3, N.Y. Rangers 2

ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Eric Belanger put Minnesota in front for good in the second period Friday and Minnesota won for the first time in three games -- 3-2 over the New York Rangers.

New York has lost five out of six.

Belanger's goal gave the Wild a 2-1 lead and Antti Miettinen brought Minnesota some insurance with his first goal of the season just 59 seconds before the end of the second period.

Niklas Backstrom gave up a goal to Marc Staal in the third, but was perfect the rest of the way. He picked up the win by making 18 saves. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 29 shots in the loss.

New York forward Marian Gaborik sat out the game with a leg injury. He spent his first eight NHL seasons with Minnesota, where he was frequently injured, before signing with the Rangers as a free agent during the summer.