Continued: Burns' OT goal lifts Wild past San Jose

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WILD 3, SAN JOSE 2 (OT)

Up next: 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Detroit • Xcel • TV: Ch. 45 (830-AM)

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Overtime is Brent Burns' time to shine.

With all that open ice, the big, fast defenseman with a wicked wrister has a large canvas to show off on, and he often paints a masterpiece.

That was the case again Wednesday night when Burns scored his fourth career overtime winner as the Wild stunned the best team in the Western Conference, and possibly the NHL, by beating the San Jose Sharks 3-2.

Burns' goal put a happy ending to a miserable end to 2008 for the Wild.

"We had a pretty tough month. I don't think that's a secret," said Burns, who also assisted on goals from Owen Nolan and Krys Kolanos. "It's a new, clean slate. Hopefully we can realize that we are a great team in here."

In what coach Jacques Lemaire called "our best game the whole year," the Wild ended an eight-game losing streak to the Sharks and a nine-game losing streak against the Western Conference.

The victory was impressive. The Wild, which had lost nine of 11 games, outskated and outchanced the 28-4-5 Sharks. The Wild also overcame loads of adversity -- three hit posts, one waved-off Andrew Brunette goal, a questionable delay-of-game penalty and a late tying goal by the Sharks.

Minnesota even had to score twice on one power play just to make one count.

For the second time in two games, the Wild needed video replay to receive a goal because one of its shots hit the stanchion deep in the net. It causes the puck to enter and exit so quickly, referees are often fooled into thinking it hit the pipe.

In Calgary, it was Stephane Veilleux. This time it was Kolanos.

With the score tied 1-1 and the Wild on a power play after a Joe Thornton minor, Kolanos swung around the net and whipped a shot that Evgeni Nabokov missed because of a James Sheppard screen.

Wild players raised their arms. The red light came on. But play continued, and 24 seconds later, Sheppard buried Kolanos' pass. But replays proved Kolanos scored, meaning the clock was backed up and Kolanos got the goal, his second of the season against San Jose.

"I thought it went in because I didn't hear anything," said Kolanos, meaning it must have gone in rather than hit iron.

Said Sheppard, "We had tons of chances, winning battles, so it was bound to happen. I just didn't think it would happen twice."

But with Nabokov pulled, Milan Michalek tied the score with 25.2 seconds left.

In overtime, San Jose's Dan Boyle made an incredible move for a shot. But his bullet missed the net, allowing the Wild to transition with speed. Pierre-Marc Bouchard sent it ahead for Mikko Koivu, who pulled up outside the left circle. He sent a cross-ice feed to Burns, who buried it from the slot.

"Mikko put it right on my tape," Burns said. "I just shot it. I didn't look. Glad I didn't miss the net."

The Wild got a big boost from the return of Nolan, who missed 10 games. His first-period power-play goal ended a streak of 11 consecutive games in which the Wild was scored upon first.

"It was nice to get the lead ... once ... in our season," Lemaire said.

Added Nolan, who captained the Sharks for five seasons, "This is the best team in the league, and we were ready."

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