Staal Lifts Wild Past Maple Leafs, NHL Scores

By ESPN

Eric Staal never has trouble finding motivation when he's up against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Staal scored yet another goal against Toronto, lifting the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 victory on Wednesday night.

Staal has 47 points in 43 career games against Toronto, and three of his six goals this season have come against the Leafs.

"It was a team I grew up watching," the 32-year-old center said. "So I always have a little spot in my heart for the Leafs because of growing up with Hockey Night in Canada there in Thunder Bay and people there are Leafs fans, that's who they watch and I was no different as a kid. "

Jason Zucker and Chris Stewart also scored for the Wild, who wrapped a five-game trip 2-1-2.

Ben Smith and Tyler Bozak had goals for the Maple Leafs, who dropped to 8-4-0 at Air Canada Centre.

Toronto entered the third period down a goal and pushed hard but couldn't get the equalizer because of goalie Devan Dubnyk, who stopped all 17 shots in the final 20 minutes and 35 in total.

Wednesday, December 7 Scoreboard

Minnesota 3, Toronto 2

Washington 4, Boston 3 (OT)

Anaheim 6, Carolina 5 (SO)

Ottawa 4, San Jose 2

Thursday, December 8 Schedule (All Times Central)

Colorado at Boston, 6 p.m.

St. Louis at New York Islanders, 6 p.m.

Edmonton at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

New Jersey at Montreal, 6:30 p.m.

Vancouver at Tampa Bay, 6:30 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Florida, 6:30 p.m.

New York Rangers at Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

Nashville at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

Calgary at Arizona, 8 p.m.

Carolina at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, December 9 Schedule (All Times Central)

Washington at Buffalo, 6 p.m.

Columbus at Detroit, 6:30 p.m.

St. Louis at New Jersey, 6:30 p.m.

Edmonton at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

New York Rangers at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.

San Jose at Anaheim, 9 p.m.

Saturday, December 10 Schedule (All Times Central)

Dallas at Philadelphia, noon

Ottawa at Los Angeles, 3 p.m.

Toronto at Boston, 6 p.m.

Colorado at Montreal, 6 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, 6 p.m.

Vancouver at Florida, 6 p.m.

New York Islanders at Columbus, 6 p.m.

Nashville at Arizona, 7 p.m.

Winnipeg at Calgary, 9 p.m.

Carolina at San Jose, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 11 Schedule (All Times Central)

Ottawa at Anaheim, 3 p.m.

Philadelphia at Detroit, 4 p.m.

Vancouver at Washington, 4 p.m.

St. Louis at Minnesota, 5 p.m.

Colorado at Toronto, 6 p.m.

New Jersey at New York Rangers, 6 p.m.

Dallas at Chicago, 6 p.m.

Winnipeg at Edmonton, 8:30 p.m.