ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Two power-play goals less than a minute apart in the second period by Mikko Koivu Thursday rallied the Minnesota Wild to a 4-2 victory over Edmonton.
The win, in Minnesota's home opener, marked the ninth straight year the Wild had been victorious in their first home game. Edmonton suffered its first loss in three contests.
Edmonton had a 2-1 lead as time was winding down in the second period, but Koivu scored on a tip-in with 5:29 to go in the stanza and scored again 52 seconds later.
The first of Koivu's goals came with Magnus Paajarvi in the penalty box for holding and the second one was scored after Jim Vandermeer was called for interference.
Matt Cullen added an insurance goal 7:37 into the third period, one that also came on the power play.
Nicklas Backstrom made 24 saves in what was Minnesota's first win of the year. Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 20-of-24 shots in taking the loss. Khabibulin had given up only two goals in Edmonton's first two games.
The loss by the Oilers left the NHL with four unbeaten teams -- Toronto, Tampa Bay, Nashville and Dallas.
