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Home | Sports | Minnesota Wild

Sykora, one riled Wild, takes it out on Rangers

Bruce Bisping, Star Tribune

New York goalie Hebrik Lundqvist couldn't stop a shot from Minnesota's Petr Sykora in the first period.

Still fuming after a healthy scratch one game ago, he got the scoring started and added an assist for good measure.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: October 30, 2009 - 11:46 PM

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WILD 3, N.Y. RANGERS 2

Up next: 6:30 p.m. today at Pittsburgh

TV: FSN (106.1-FM, 107.5-FM)

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Wild boss Todd Richards hoped Petr Sykora would prove he made the wrong decision.

Come in with the "attitude of sticking it to the coach," Richards had implored Thursday.

Friday night, the veteran winger not only stuck it to the coach, he just might have stapled a message to his tie: "Don't scratch me again."

A motivated Sykora, one game after being assigned a pressbox seat against Nashville, scored a goal and assisted on Eric Belanger's goal during the Wild's 3-2 victory over the injury-riddled New York Rangers.

"Talking to Petr, you're trying to tell him, 'You're going to be all right. Stay positive,' but it's tough. It's not an easy situation for him," said Belanger, Sykora's car-pool companion. "I had a feeling something good was going to happen. It did, and hopefully it gets our line [with Martin Havlat] going."

Sykora, one of three current NHL players to have scored 20 or more goals in 10 consecutive seasons, registered his first two-point game since Jan. 28. But afterward, the still-stung Sykora said, "I don't want to talk about [being scratched], seriously. I'm happy we won a game."

Antti Miettinen scored the winner on his first goal of the season, Mikko Koivu had two assists and Niklas Backstrom made 18 saves as the Wild, which didn't trail in a game for the first time this season, improved to 4-1 at home. Tonight, the Wild looks to end its 0-8 road record in Pittsburgh.

It was a solid all-around game for the Wild, which was playing a struggling Rangers team devoid of Marian Gaborik, Sean Avery and Chris Higgins.

For a change, Richards circulated the ice time evenly, even giving enforcer Derek Boogaard a regular shift in the third period. After the second, Richards told his assistants, Mike Ramsey and Dave Barr, "So this is what it feels like to be up by two."

Added an appreciative Backstrom with a giggle, "It was a new situation for us."

Richards said before the game he hadn't talked to Sykora about why he was scratched, but recent video work made it evident to him. Richards wanted a player more committed to playing defensively and driving the net.

After Sykora did just that Friday, Richards said: "I think Petr had something to prove. ... We need more from him."

Late in a scoreless first period, Sykora picked defenseman Matt Gilroy's pocket and sent the puck behind the net. Andrew Brunette hustled and slid a pass to Koivu, who completed the tic-tac-toe to Sykora.

But Rangers callup Dane Byers, who had hopped out of cab minutes before gametime because his flight arrived late, tied the score at 1-1 with his first NHL goal.

The Wild got the lead back after Sykora tiptoed the blue line to keep play onside. He threaded a pass for Havlat, who sent a picture-perfect, backhanded pass to a driving Belanger for his third goal. For Havlat, it was his first point since Oct. 8, ending a seven-game drought.

"Anytime I got the puck or Bella, Marty was there to support," Sykora said. "It's just a matter of time before he gets a couple bounces and scores a lot of goals."

After Koivu forced a Marc Staal turnover late in the second, Koivu made a dazzling drop pass underneath defenseman Dan Girardi for Miettinen, who gave the Wild its second two-goal lead of the season and first since Oct. 10. Staal cut it to one in the third, but Richards was pleased the way the Wild protected the lead.

"We managed the game well," he said.

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