was loaded onto a stretcher to be taken to hospital. "I havent r

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild fell into a sloppy pattern of play with the puck after taking an early lead on the floundering Florida Panthers, who snapped to life to forge a tie. But the Wild proved they could learn a lesson -- and win a game. Charlie Coyle put Minnesota ahead with 8:22 remaining after Florida scored twice in the third period, and the Wild hung on to beat the Panthers 3-2 on Friday night for their sixth win in seven games. "We kind of fell into that trap a little bit after the second period, where we wanted it to be easy," Wild coach Mike Yeo said. "We were hoping it was going to be easy the rest of the way. When you want it to be easy and youre not ready to do the hard things, then it ends up being very difficult." After a scoreless second period, the Wild paid for their mid-game sluggishness by giving up goals to Tomas Kopecky and Jonathan Huberdeau about 5 1/2 minutes apart. Minnesotas top line was buzzing all night, though, and came through when it counted. Mikko Koivu, who had two assists, controlled the puck along the end boards and leaned forward for an off-balance pass to Coyle, who was muscling for position in the crease with Mike Mottau. Coyle poked the puck in for his second goal in four games. "He put it right on my stick, so it found a way home," Coyle said. Since Coyle returned from injury, the Wilds lines have finally been settled. The results have been obvious. "Its nice to have, for sure, when you have guys that are going out there and they know what to expect out of their linemates," Yeo said. "At the same time we just have to make sure that we dont fall asleep here." Josh Harding stopped 22 shots to improve to 9-0 at home. The NHL leader in goals-against average has given up two goals or fewer in all but one of his 16 appearances. The Wild improved to 9-1-2 at home this season for 20 points, the most by any NHL team. At 12-4-4, they set a franchise record for most points (28) through 20 games. Zach Parise scored early in the first period during a power play off a pretty tic-tac-toe-style passing sequence from Koivu and Jason Pominville, and Pominville pushed the lead to 2-0 with his team-leading 12th goal. The Panthers have been outscored 47-19 over the first two periods this season. "We just need to learn how to play 60 minutes because thats what kills us," Huberdeau said. "Were always down. We never score the first goal." Jonas Brodins own-zone turnover set up Kopecky for the first goal, his first this season. Then after Nick Bjugstad lost the puck on a rush when Ryan Suter forced him to lose control, Huberdeau swooped in behind him to snipe a shot high over Hardings glove to break a 12-game drought. "Even on the bench there was never any panic. We stuck with it," Pominville said. Tim Thomas made 17 saves for the Panthers, who played for the first time without Kris Versteeg. He was traded to Chicago on Thursday for a pair of prospects, including 6-foot-6 right wing Jimmy Hayes, who was scratched for this game. After firing coach Kevin Dineen last week and replacing him with Peter Horachek, Florida general manager Dale Tallon has promised more changes if the Panthers dont get in a groove. They started a five-game, 6,448-mile trip by falling to 1-8-1 on the road. Their last win away from home was the season opener at Dallas. "The good thing is that we showed character in coming back again, you know? A great effort," Thomas said. "But we have to find some way to quit getting down and getting behind right off the bat." The Panthers went 0 for 3 on the power play and fell to 6 for 69 this season. "It seems like theres the same picture coming back over and over again," Horachek said. "This is definitely a project for us to get over that mental part of the game." NOTES: Rookie Johan Gustafsson was recalled from the AHL to back up Harding, with Niklas Backstrom out because of an upper-body injury sustained Wednesday when Torontos Nazem Kadri levelled him in the crease. Kadri was given a three-game suspension by the NHL. ... The Wild are 10-2-3 against the Panthers, including 5-0-2 at home. ... Bjugstad, a star at Blaine High School and the University of Minnesota, played in Minnesota as a pro for the first time. He had about 70 friends and family members in attendance. Chris Paul Clippers Jersey . "I have had no discussions with Chad Johnson or his representation," Popp said Friday in an email. However, he appeared to confirm a report on Twitter from TSN this week that Johnson was on Montreals negotiation list. JaMychal Green Clippers Jersey .J. -- After getting permission from his 7-year-old daughter, New York Giants offensive lineman David Diehl has retired after an 11-year career that included two Super Bowl championships. https://www.clipperslockerroom.com/ . In an interview with La Presse this week, the five-time Stanley Cup champion and three-time NHL scoring leader specifically took aim at wingers Thomas Vanek and Max Pacioretty, saying they cant show up in a 7-4 win over the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final and come up empty in Game 6. Louis Williams Jersey . Early in the first period, Stuart pinched in from the blue line, hit Nash and was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing. Nash remained in the game for the rest of the first period, but did not return for the second. Tobias Harris Clippers Jersey . Louis Blues have returned to the top spot in the TSN. VANCOUVER -- The list of Toronto Maple Leaf injuries grew Saturday when centre Dave Bolland was taken to hospital for surgery after suffering a cut on his left leg. On Monday, the team announced Bolland had undergone successful surgery in Vancouver "to repair a a severed tendon on the outside of his left ankle." and will be out indefinitely. Bolland was hurt early in the second period of Torontos 4-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks when he was taken into the boards by Zack Kassian. Kassians skate appeared to hit the back of Bollands leg. The 27-year-old from Mimico, Ont., instantly crumpled to the ice. He was attempting to get back on his feet when Kassian scored the games second goal. Bolland had to be helped to the bench by teammates. After the game, Toronto coach Randy Carlyle could offer few details but compared Bollands injury to the one suffered last year by Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators. Karlsson missed 10 weeks when his Achilles tendon was partially sliced while being checked into the boards by Matt Cooke of the Pittsburgh Penguins. "He suffered a cut similar to the Karlsson injury," said Carlyle. "I dont know the severity or which tendon, but he did suffer a cut into that area." Mooments after Carlyle spoke to reporters Bolland hobbled out of the Toronto dressing room on crutches.dddddddddddd. He was loaded onto a stretcher to be taken to hospital. "I havent really saw it," Carlyle said of the play. "I know Kassian went into finish his check. I cant comment other than that." Kassian said it was a clean hit. "I havent seen it again, or really looked," he said. "I just went in to finish my hit. I am not sure what even happened to him. "I went in there hard to finish my hit, I dont know what happened but it was a clean hit. I know it was clean so no talking about that." The Leafs are already without top centre Tyler Bozak and defenceman Mark Fraser. Goaltender James Reimer said Bollands injury will hurt the team. "Losing a guy like that, hes been real solid for us, probably one of our best players for the last couple of games," said Reimer, who faced 47 shots in the loss. "Its real tough to lose him but having said that, as a team we have to find a way to rally around him and play well for him and try to win one for him." Bolland came to the Leafs this year in a trade from Chicago. In 15 games he has six goals and four assists. ' ' '