ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Niklas Backstrom turned aside 32-of-33 shots Monday, backstopping the Minnesota Wild to a 3-1 victory over Tampa Bay.
Backstrom rebounded from a poor game Sunday against Calgary -- in which he was pulled in the first period -- to stymie the Lightning, making 13 saves in the final frame as the Wild finished a six-game homestand with a 4-2 record.
Cal Clutterbuck knotted the score 1-1 when he scored a shorthanded goal off a Tampa Bay turnover and Pierre-Marc Bouchard doubled the advantage with a marker 9 1/2 minutes later.
Mikko Koivu added an empty-netter for Minnesota, which pulled even with Chicago atop the Western Conference standings at 14-7-3.
Steven Stamkos notched his 15th goal of the season and Mathieu Garon made 21 saves for the Bolts.