ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Martin Havlat scored twice and assisted on a third Friday, fueling the Minnesota Wild's 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators.
Minnesota, coming off back-to-back losses in which it was outscored 11-3, jumped out to a 4-0 lead and coasted to the win from there. The Wild got their first three goals in a 5:50 stretch of the first period.
"When you take a 3-0 lead in the first period it takes a lot of pressure off of you as a goalie," said Theodore. "It helps you to relax back there and allows you to focus on what you have to do to keep them from coming back in the game."
Marek Zidlicky, Andrew Brunette and Nick Schultz got the other Wild goals. Minnesota goalie Jose Theodore stopped 32 shots.
The Predators got power-play goals from Martin Erat and Steve Sullivan in the third period but it was too little, too late. Starting Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne was yanked after giving up three goals on nine shots. Backup Anders Lindback fared somewhat better, giving up the other two scores on 14 shots.
