ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Niklas Backstrom rebounded from a rough game and an early exit with 32 saves, and the Minnesota Wild stopped a two-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night.
Steven Stamkos scored again for the Lightning, but Cal Clutterbuck's short-handed goal and Pierre-Marc Bouchard's go-ahead score in the second period gave the Wild all the offense they needed. Mikko Koivu had an assist and an empty-net goal to pad the lead in a quick, clean game that featured only four penalties.
Stamkos has nine goals in 11 games and four goals in his last four games.
Backstrom improved to 5-1-1 in his career against the Lightning.