Wild 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 3; Latendresse clutch again

One game after scoring two goals, including the tying goal with 1:33 left against Chicago, Guillaume Latendresse had a career-high four points in the Wild's third consecutive victory tonight.

If San Jose holds on to beat Los Angeles -- the Sharks are up 2-1 after 2 as I post this -- the Wild will be back within four points of a playoff spot.

Latendresse, the No. 2 pick by Drummondville in the 2003 QMJHL Draft and No. 45 pick by Montreal in the 2005 NHL Draft, outscored Sidney Crosby, the No. 1 pick by Rimouski in the 2003 QMJHL Draft and No. 1 pick by Pittsburgh in the 2005 NHL Draft.

Crosby, the former Shattuck-St. Mary's superstar, scored two goals and an assist, and now has seven points in two career visits to St. Paul. Latendresse scored the winning goal 6:13 into the third period and had a career-high three assists.

The Wild's 15-6 with Latendresse in the lineup and 8-1 when he scores a point. Since Dec. 15, Latendresse's eight even-strength goals lead the NHL. Remember in the first month when the Wild didn't have a prayer to score at even-strength?

Martin Havlat had an awesome give-and-go for one goal, and Havlat played a great overall game. Havlat now has points in eight straight, one off his personal career-long point streak. The eight-game point streak is the longest since Plymouth resident Mark Parrish in Dec. 2007-Jan. 2008.

Eric Belanger scored on a chopper and had an assist to give him 11 points in the last 10. Cal Clutterbuck scored a goal -- a Latendresse shot off his chest -- and took a flying elbow from Sergei Gonchar. Gonchar got a five-minute elbow and could face a suspension. I don't understand how he didn't get an intent to injure. It was in obvious retaliation for a hit earlier that shift. Nevertheless, it should have been a game misconduct, too, because Clutterbuck was cut on the bridge of his nose.

Clutterbuck had some pointed comments for Gonchar after the game, which can be read in the notebook.

The Wild didn't score on the major by the way, but it held on for the win. Niklas Backstrom was great. Controlled his rebounds, held Pittsburgh to no goals on six power plays, including a 1:10 5-on-3, and made 35 saves for his 113th win -- tying Manny Fernandez for the most wins by a Wild goalie in 52 fewer games (208).

Hey, by the way, Doug Risebrough -- now a Rangers scout -- attended his first Wild game since being fired. He was cordial and is by far the best dressed scout in the history of the league. Must have been 10 years of GM/President salary

What else?

-- Eric Belanger and Nick Schultz each hit the 100-point mark with the Wild.

-- Season sweep over the Pens for the Wild (2-0)

-- Backstrom is 14-2-4 with a 1.99 GAA and .929 SP in 20 career starts after getting pulled. He is 10-0-1 in his last 11 with a 1.70 GAA and .942 SP.

--Kyle Brodziak had an assist on Latendresse's winner for a career-high four-game point streak.

--Wild has allowed the first goal in 20 of the past 27 games. The Wild's 12-16-2 when allowing the first goal. No other team has more than 11 wins in that situation. The Wild has trailed in 14 of 23 wins.

--The Wild leads the league with 17 one-goal wins. It had 19 all of last year. It's played in 27 one-goal games, tied with Montreal for the most.