Wild 3, Ducks 2: Thanks to a pair of goals from Stephane Veilleux and 35 saves from Niklas Backstrom, the Minnesota Wild picked up a huge 3-2 win in Anaheim. The Wild had lost eight of their past 11 games entering play on Sunday, and moved to within one point of No. 8 seed Nashville. The Western Conference race is every bit the logjam the east is, as six teams are separated by just four points.Entering play on Sunday, the Ducks held a slim one-point edge over Minnesota, and now find themselves two points back of a possible playoff spot. Anaheim has been slumping as of late, losing seven of its past 10. It's not getting any easier in the coming week with games against Vancouver, San Jose and Nashville.
Thrashers 5, Flames 2: In their first game after acquiring Olli Jokinen and Jordan Leopold, the Calgary Flames picked up a convincing win in Philadelphia. In the two games since? They've been blown out by a combined score of 11-3, including Sunday's 5-2 loss in Atlanta.
Bryan Little scored a pair of goals for the Thrashers, while Ilya Kovalchuk picked up a goal and an assist in the win.
The rest of Sunday's action
Manny Fernandez struggles for Boston as the Bruins drop a 4-3 game in New York.
Sidney Crosby helps lift the Penguins to a 4-3 win in Washington.
The Islanders have now won four of their past five games, thanks to a 3-2 win over Phoenix.
Colorado ends its six-game losing streak with a 5-1 win over Chicago.
The Stars have now lost seven of their past nine.
Daily rebounds
-- Rumor out of Tampa Bay is that Rick Tocchet is going to get a contract extension. This, of course, comes a day after general manager Brian Lawton claimed Tocchet is not guaranteed the job after the season ends.
-- Battle of Ontario asks the question: who was the ugliest deadline acquisition of 2009?
Monday's key games
-- Carolina hosts the Rangers in another big Eastern Conference tilt. The Hurricanes have been playing fantastic hockey lately, winning seven of their past nine. Carolina is coming off a 9-3 dismantling of Tampa Bay on Saturday night, while the Rangers are currently in a three-way tie with Pittsburgh and Florida with 76 points. The Hurricanes are one point back with an opportunity to jump over all of them on Monday.
-- Los Angeles hosts Vancouver in what has to be considered a must win game for the Kings. Los Angeles trails No. 8 Nashville by five points.
