Mikko Koivu scored with 3 minutes 4 seconds remaining to help the Wild beat the Avalanche 3-2 on Sunday to keep Minnesota as the only NHL team yet to lose a game in regulation. The Wild’s seventh win in its first eight games is the best start in franchise history. The only blemish was Tuesday’s overtime loss in Los Angeles.
Niklas Backstrom made 29 saves, and Mark Parrish and Brian Rolston also scored for the Wild. Andrew Brunette and former Hawk Tyler Arnason scored for the Avalanche.
*Ryan Kesler scored two goals and goaltender Curtis Sanford won his first start of the season as the Canucks beat the Blue Jackets 4-1. Markus Naslund and Kevin Bieksa added goals for the Canucks, who won despite being outshot 20-0 during one lengthy span.
*A cat scan on Florida’s David Booth, who left the ice on a stretcher Saturday after he was checked into the boards from behind, was negative and Panthers coach Jacques Martin said the left winger should be OK. Ottawa defenseman Anton Volchenkov was assessed a major penalty and given a game misconduct.
*AHL: The Wolves scored two goals in the first period and went on to beat the Rivermen 4-2 in Peoria’s Carver Arena. The Wolves’ 4-0 start is their best in franchise history. Right wing Jesse Schultz scored twice for the Wolves, who also got goals from center Andre Deveaux and left wing Colin Stuart. Wolves goaltender Fred Brathwaite stopped 28 of 30 shots for his second win of the season.
