ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Dany Heatley's second-period goal turned out to be the game-winner Thursday and the Minnesota Wild halted an eight-game losing streak by downing Edmonton 4-3.
The Wild had not won since Dec. 10 at Phoenix.
Minnesota started poorly again, giving up a goal to Taylor Hall just 1:24 into the game. The Wild then came up with unanswered goals from Mikko Koivu in the first period and from Jarod Palmer and Pierre-Marc Bouchard in the second.
Ladislav Smid brought the Oilers within one before Heatley's wrist shot gave Minnesota a 4-2 lead with 4:34 to go in the middle period.
Niklas Backstrom gave up a third-period goal to Shawn Horcoff, but then shut the door and made 27 saves to get the win.
Nikolai Khabibulin gave up four goals on 19 shots before being removed in the third period for Devan Dubnyk. Edmonton has lost eight out of 10.
