The Minnesota Wild destroyed the New Jersey Devils 6-2 on Tuesday night at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild are now three points ahead of Winnipeg for the top Wild Card spot in the Western Conference and four points ahead of ninth-place Los Angeles.

Sean Bergenheim scored late in the first period to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead at the first intermission, followed by Jared Spurgeon and Chris Stewart notching goals early in the second period for a 3-0 lead.

After a Devils goal, Thomas Vanek scored his 15th goal of the season to give the Wild a 4-1 lead after two.

Minnesota buried New Jersey with two more goals in the third period, a Jason Pominville tally followed by Vanek's second of the game, to pull ahead 6-1. Devan Dubnyk made 30 saves to earn the win.

The Wild now trail the Chicago Blackhawks by only three points for third place in the Western Conference's Central Division. Minnesota is set to host Anaheim on Friday night.

 

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