Wild trio does more than its share on offense

Lynne Sladky, Associated Press

Florida's Nathan Horton, right, gets called for roughing as he hits Minnesota's Benoit Pouliot, left, with his stick after Pouliot scored a goal in the second period.

Mikko Koivu had five of the top line's 10 points, supplying more than enough scoring punch for the Wild to punch out the Panthers.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: October 17, 2008 - 5:15 AM

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WILD 6, FLORIDA 2

Up next: at Tampa Bay • 6:30 p.m. Saturday

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SUNRISE, FLA. - Injuries are piling up for the Wild.

Marian Gaborik is the latest addition to the early-season casualty list, but as long as one particular trio of forwards is healthy, it's smooth sailing for the Wild.

The AMA line -- Andrew Brunette, Mikko Koivu and Antti Miettinen -- hoisted the injury-riddled squad atop its prolific shoulders again Thursday night as the Wild routed the Florida Panthers 6-2 at BankAtlantic Center.

Koivu had a career-high five points, including four assists, which tied a Wild record. Miettinen scored two goals and registered his second consecutive three-point game and Brunette had a goal and assist as the line totaled 10 points.

Gaborik and fellow wingers Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Owen Nolan might be injured, but the AMA line has jelled magnificently, scoring eight goals and 24 points in three games.

"It's fun to see because, let's say, it makes it a little easier for me," coach Jacques Lemaire said. "It's one line that plays together that you guys won't say I'm breaking the line again. They're carrying a lot right now."

Benoit Pouliot and Kim Johnsson also scored a goal and assist each as the Wild, and Niklas Backstrom improved to 3-0.

"Who would say we'd score six goals playing defensively?" Lemaire said, laughing.

Koivu's brother, Saku, is supposed to be the playmaker in the family, but Mikko has been an assist machine so far. He's already got eight, and all four against the Panthers were lead setups.

"Sometimes the puck comes to you and you make the plays," Koivu said. "Like Pouliot's goal. I just tried to clear the puck and he goes 1-on-2 and scores a goal."

Miettinen now has five goals, 10 fewer than his career high set in 69 games last season. The free-agent pickup became the first Wild player to score in his first three games, and he scored his second consecutive game-winning goal.

"The way Mikko's passing, they should go in," Miettinen said. "Mikko's setting them up pretty nicely for me."

The Wild improved to 7-1-1 all-time against the Panthers and chased goalie Tomas Vokoun after two periods. It went 3-for-6 on the power play but put together a shrewd game plan to challenge the physical Panthers.

"We talked before about getting the puck up fast and not getting caught in our end and they'd get tired," Johnsson said. "And you know what? I thought they did get tired."

The Wild jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first. Miettinen tied up Jay Bouwmeester behind the net and Koivu sneakily sent a blind backhand in front for Brunette.

The Wild then stormed out for a three-goal second period. Pouliot muscled his way to set up a Johnsson goal that went through a maze of teammates for a 2-0 Wild lead.

Nick Boynton cut the deficit in half, but on a power play, Tomas Mojzis, making his Wild debut, fed Koivu, who crossed a pass to Miettinen in tight. He roofed a shot to about the only place Vokoun didn't have covered. Karlis Skrastins made it 3-2, but then Pouliot scored a beauty. After lugging the puck up ice, he dodged a huge check from Boynton near the Florida blue line. He then skated in alone and made Vokoun look bad for a 4-2 Wild lead.

Miettinen and Koivu scored power-play goals in the third.

"Mits is red-hot right now," Brunette said. "And Mikko's such an intelligent player. He's just good all over the ice. He just keeps coming after you.

"It's early, but we've had great chemistry right now. Now we just have to keep it going."

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