ST. PAUL, Minn., April 26 (UPI) -- Corey Potter scored two first-period goals Friday, sending Edmonton to a 6-1 win over Minnesota that prevented the Wild from clinching a playoff berth.
Edmonton scored three times in each of the first two periods to win for just the second time in 11 games.
A home victory by Minnesota over the lowly Oilers would have given the Wild their first post-season spot in five years. Minnesota can still earn a playoff bid by downing Colorado Saturday, but a loss would give Columbus a chance to vault past the Wild into the final playoff position.
Potter scored just 27 seconds into the game and added a goal with 1:22 left in the first period that gave Edmonton a 3-0 led.
Potter's second goal drove Minnesota goaltender Nicklas Backstrom to the bench in favor of Josh Harding, who gave up three more goals on 12 shots.
Nikolai Khabibulin made 38 saves for the Oilers.
