Die Macht » They have their little plays.

PITTSBURGH -- The Minnesota Wild, after a long layoff, were admittedly a little rusty early on the road against the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.But Eric Staal provided the spark offensively to allow the defensive-minded Wild to settle down.Staal had a three-point night, including the game-winning goal in the third period, as the Wild defeated the Penguins 4-2 on Thursday night.Ive scored a few against (Pittsburgh) and Ive felt the pain against them in the playoffs a few years, too, Staal said. It was nice to get the win tonight.Staal has spent 11 of his 12 NHL seasons in the Eastern Conference, and last season, he played for the Rangers, a team the Penguins eliminated in the playoffs en route to the franchises fourth Stanley Cup.Still, Staal has experienced success against Pittsburgh and the trend continued Thursday. Staal scored his fifth of the season and added two assists, giving him 51 points in 50 career games against the Penguins.Charlie Coyle scored his fourth of the season on the power play, while Nino Niederreiter added his third and Jared Spurgeon his second into an empty net for the Wild, who won for the fourth time in six games.Devan Dubnyk, who made 39 saves, allowed fewer than three goals for the eighth straight game, which includes a streak of three straight shutouts. The Wild defeated the Penguins for the first time in five games, including four straight in Pittsburgh.This was a great challenge going against the Stanley Cup champions who hadnt lost in regulation at home, Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. I think they were up for it.Sidney Crosby and Patric Hornqvist both scored power-play goals for Pittsburgh, which lost in regulation for the first time in eight games. It was also Pittsburghs first regulation home loss this season.Crosby has nine goals and 11 points in eight games since returning from a concussion that sidelined him for the first six games of the season. Crosby opened the season with a six-game point streak. Phil Kessel had two assists for Pittsburgh, which allowed a season-high 43 shots.Marc-Andre Fleury made his first start in a week on Thursday and stopped 40 shots. He backed up Matt Murray the previous two games.Especially in their own zone, (the Wild) are really good at having different layers, Crosby said. They collapse five guys pretty close to the puck, so you have to find ways to win your battles and play in their end a little bit more and we werent able to do that.The Wild, playing their first game since a one-goal loss against Colorado on Saturday, started slow as a giveaway led to a chance for Crosby alone in front of Dubnyk, while Evgeni Malkin later hit the post during a 2-on-1 with Kessel.(Crosby) is not the guy you want to see standing in front of you that early in the game, Dubnyk said. Anytime Sid wants to backhand it into my chest Im fine with that because his backhand is as hard as many forehands. They came out real hard and sometimes you need a couple bounces to get going.Staal was the catalyst, with a second assist on Coyles power-play goal and then the primary helper on Niederreiters tying goal in the second period.Staal put Minnesota in front for good early in the third period. Coyle put a shot on net following a Penguins turnover behind the goal and Staal backhanded the rebound behind Fleury.The first five minutes, I think we were a little nervous and we started throwing the puck away, and I thought `Uh-oh, were going to get killed, Boudreau said. Once we settled down, a lot of good things happened and I thought we competed really hard.Game notes Minnesota entered with five goals in its previous 34 chances with the man advantage. . Kessel has a seven-game home point streak. Malkin has a point in five straight home games for Pittsburgh ... Wild F Erik Haula returned after missing seven games with a foot injury. ... Minnesota F Zack Mitchell made his NHL debut. ... The Wild placed D Marco Scandella on long-term injured reserve on Wednesday. ... Minnesota F Zach Parise remains week-to-week with a lower-body injury suffered last month.UP NEXTWild: Continue a stretch of three road games in four nights Saturday against Philadelphia.Penguins: Complete a three-game home stand Saturday against Toronto. Cheap Balenciaga . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Fake Balenciaga . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . https://www.fakebalenciaga.com/ . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Fake Balenciaga For Sale . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Fake Balenciaga Shoes . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Ryan Kesler is having a monster season for the Anaheim Ducks -- at both ends of the rink.Being tied for the team lead with 28 points (12-16) only starts to tell the story. His shutdown game against top offensive stars has also really sparkled.Tyler Seguin (two games), Joe Pavelski (three games), Connor McDavid (two games), John Tavares (two games) and Anze Kopitar (one game) are a few of the top-end players whom Kesler has shut down -- as in zero even-strength goals scored against the Ducks while he was on the ice. Linemates?Andrew Cogliano and?Jakob Silfverberg?are vital to that end as well.Faceoffs, penalty killing, power play -- the 32-year-old Livonia, Michigan, native is doing it all. He won the Selke Trophy as the NHLs top defensive forward in 2011 while still with the Vancouver Canucks, and was nominated last season. Hes making a strong case again in 2016-17.I sat down with Kesler on Sunday afternoon and asked him to break down the top (mostly Western Conference) forwards hes routinely assigned to contain, and the challenges those star players bring:Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles KingsKesler: A guy whos good on both sides of the puck. He works hard, he has good vision and I feel that if he starts with the puck, he really likes to build speed through the neutral zone. He likes to get the puck in the middle of the ice and distribute from there. So, really just trying to stay above him in the neutral zone is whats key. And winning faceoffs.Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton OilersKesler: He likes his neutral-zone play, he likes carrying the puck and getting there with speed. Youve just got to stay close to him. Hes so dynamic, hes so explosive -- you got to be above him all the time. Hes going to get his chances, but thats when the whole line comes into effect. Just got to try and stay above him and be hard on him, make him hate playing against you. Stay close to him and really make that neutral zone tough because thats where he generates most of his offense, and on the rush.Patrick Kane, RW, Chicago BlackhawksKesler: When Kane had his breakout year, it was always [difficult] playing against him. Hes more dangerous offensively. I feel like hes the life force of that team that really gets his whole team playing like he does. That line normally is him and [Artemi] Panarin. They like to swing really low, almost to the top of the circle and pick up the puck -- their D do a good job of pulling it back and stretching the zone. For us, we dont want to be sitting ducks in the neutral zone, we want to be up and have speed and skate with them. Kane is dynamic; hes going to get his chances, just like McDavid. But for me, its just swinging with him and not letting him get the puck [on the breakout], letting his center, [Artem] Anisimov, carrying it up the ice rather than Kane. Id much rather have Anisimov carrying it through the neutral zone than Kane.Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh PenguinsKesler: Everybody knows what hes about. Hes the best player in the game, probably. What can you say? Hes going to get his chances, hes explosive. He can dish, he can shoot, hes good around the net, hes strong. ... He doesnt say much on the ice. Hes a guy that really just goes about his business and puts up points. We didnt have much success against him this year [a 5-1 loss]. You just try to play him hard and know where other peeople on the ice are with him.dddddddddddd Because if you just focus on him, hes going to give somebody else a tap-in.John Tavares, C, New York IslandersKesler: Probably the best one-on-one player in the NHL. Hes a guy that you have to be aware of because you think he has nothing, and then he turns it into something. Hes a guy that competes extremely hard. He battles on the draw. He makes things happen.Joe Pavelski, C/W, and Joe Thornton, C, San Jose SharksKesler: Its tough. Especially [on] faceoffs, when both can take them on their strong side, right or left. That line has so many faceoff plays, and usually with [defenseman Brent] Burns out there, too. Its a whole line you have to be aware of. They like their plays, like behind the net -- Thornton likes distributing from there. And Pavelski is a guy youve got to tie his stick up, he gets his stick on everything. For me, its just being hard on those guys. Jumbo [Thornton] likes to use his body and, [given] his reach ... youve got to try and get close, get stick on puck and take away his options. ... Thornton and I have had our battles over the years, but I think its a respect thing. We have our talks out there, he seems like a good guy, but hes the enemy. [smiles]Henrik Sedin, C, and Daniel Sedin, W, Vancouver CanucksKesler: Theyre good guys, probably the nicest guys in the league, to be honest. With them, youve got to play them hard. Its tough, obviously theyre [my] friends, but you cant let them off the hook. You have to finish your checks on them, you have to deter them physically. Youve always got to know where both of them are. They have their little plays. I think since I played with them for so long, it might be a bit easier for me because I know their reads and I know their tendencies.Tyler Seguin, RW, and Jamie Benn, C, Dallas StarsKesler: We had a tough time with them last time [a 6-2 loss]. Theyre a line that takes chances. ... We know if we turn the puck over, all three guys on that line are gone. You dont want to push too much and turn pucks over. With that line, we try to counter a lot and make them play in their own zone.Bonus question: Is Benn a guy where you dont want to poke the bear?Kesler: Hes the life of that team. They tend to feed off him when he gets into fights and when hes physical. So, if hes sleeping, were going to let him sleep.Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, St. Louis BluesKesler: I think I fought him last year. I feel like I can deter him. For him, hes a skilled player, he can shoot the hell out of the puck, hes going to get his chances. For me, its limiting time and space. I know he likes his snap shot; he pulls it in and releases it really good. So, the less he has the puck, the better for us.Matt Duchene, C, Colorado AvalancheKesler: Speed, obviously, with him -- hes got a good release and a good shot. You try to deter him physically and just be hard on him. If I dont have a read on a guy, I just try to outwork him.Mark Scheifele, C, Winnipeg JetsKesler: Hes come on, really good player. Hes having a great year. He has that shot on the power play from the middle of the ice. The big thing is making him work off the draw. If you win the draw, youre most likely going to win the battle that shift. ' ' '