Minnesota 4, Phoenix 1

Kyle Brodziak collected his second two-goal game in five contests and Niklas Backstrom turned aside 35 shots as the Minnesota Wild skated to their seventh straight victory with a 4-1 road triumph over the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday.
 
Captain Mikko Koivu scored for the third time in as many games and Dany Heatley also tallied for NHL-leading Minnesota, which matched its longest winning streak since it won a franchise-best nine in a row in March 2007.
 
Brodziak opened the scoring 2:08 into the first period after backhanding a rebound off Pierre-Marc Bouchard's shot past Mike Smith.
 
After Koivu doubled the advantage with his 17th point in 12 games, Brodziak made the Coyotes pay for Martin Hanzal's hooking penalty by converting a wraparound at 11:43 of the second period. Brodziak, who also tallied twice versus the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 2, leads the Wild with 10 goals this season.
 
Backstrom, who was returning from a two-game absence with a groin injury, was denied his third shutout of the season and 25th career when Lauri Korpikoski scored with 3:57 remaining in the third period.
 
Smith finished with 16 saves for Phoenix, which fell to 7-3-1 in its last 11 games versus Minnesota.

• Phoenix will play their next game on the road against Phoenix . The Coyotes have a W/L % of .375 after a win and .692 after a loss.
• Minnesota will play their next game on the road against Winnipeg . The Wild have a W/L % of .737 after a win and .545 after a loss.