Wild Within One Point of Playoff Spot, NHL News

For the second straight game, Charlie Coyle came through in the shootout to keep the Minnesota Wild within one point of a playoff spot.

Coyle scored the only goal in the tiebreaker to lift the Wild to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.

Coyle, Minnesota's first shooter, beat Chicago's Scott Darling with a backhander a night after he and Zach Parise scored in the shootout in a home win over Carolina.

"It's kind of last-second," Coyle said of his in-tight forehand-to-backhand move that improved him to 3 for 5 in shootout attempts this season. "You always have moves in your head, looking for a shot if it's there. Sometimes it opens up. Sometimes you get lucky."

Minnesota remained one point behind Colorado, which beat Edmonton, for the Western Conference's second and final wild-card spot.

"We've had back-to-back nights of it," Minnesota coach John Torchetti said of the consecutive shootout victories. "It says we want it. Some people question us. Not me. I think we want it."

Nino Niederreiter had his 18th goal and added an assist, and Erik Haula also scored in regulation as the Wild improved to 4-0 against Chicago this season.

Sunday, March 20 Scoreboard

Anaheim 3, Winnipeg 2 (OT)

New Jersey 2, Columbus 1

Pittsburgh 6, Washington 2

Calgary 4, Montreal 1

Minnesota 3, Chicago 2 (SO)

Colorado 3, Edmonton 2

San Jose 3, Arizona 0

Monday, March 21 Schedule (All Times Central)

Florida at NY Rangers, 6 p.m.

Philadelphia at NY Islanders, 6:30 p.m.

Calgary at Toronto, 6:30 p.m.

Los Angeles at Nashville, 7 p.m.