Wild Vs. Jets: Evander Kane Helps Jets Down Wild In Shootout Win

Evander Kane scored twice in regulation and the winner in the shootout to lift the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild.

In the fourth round, Dany Heatley was stopped by Chris Mason and Kane won it when he buried a wrister past Niklas Backstrom on his chance.

Kane also had an assist while Alexander Burmistrov had a goal and an assist for the Jets, who had dropped their previous two. Mason made 22 stops in the win.

Devin Setoguchi had two goals and an assist while Mikko Koivu added a goal and a helper for the Wild, who have dropped their past six. Backstrom made 24 stops in the loss.

Minnesota struck first on a 3-on-1 break that saw Koivu fake the shot along the left wing before centering for the redirect from Setoguchi 7:50 in.

Winnipeg, though, struck back with 1:13 to play in the first as Blake Wheeler skated down the right wing and around the net before emerging on the other side and passing it over to Kane for the wide-open slam.

Kane scored three minutes into the second when he chipped the puck into the zone and from the left circle was able to get it over Backstrom, who had come out of the net to try and play the puck.

However, the Wild tied the game on the power play with 7:45 to play in the second as Setoguchi's small slap shot from the top of the right circle got by Mason.

The Wild made it a 3-2 game 1:03 into the third as a slap-pass by Jared Spurgeon at the right point went to the low left side where Koivu redirected it on net then slammed home his own rebound.

Winnipeg tied it two minutes later when Burmistrov was able to pick up a loose puck at the right circle off a bounce from the backboard and sneak it home.

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Wild Vs. Jets NHL Preview: Minnesota Moving Forward Without Marek Zidlicky On Ice

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Minnesota Wild Trade Rumors 2012: Marek Zidlicky Healthy Scratch Thursday

The Minnesota Wild are in an odd position as the NHL trade deadline nears. Most are asking whether or not they're going to go out and target somebody aggressively to save a season that started with so much promise, while the actual news is more about whether or not they're going to trade one of their better players, not because they're in need of moving him for someone else, but because he actively wants to leave the team.

Marek Zidlicky requested a trade at the end of January, and has waived his no-trade clause when it comes to a potential trade with the New Jersey Devils. He's unhappy with his role on the team and it's pretty clear that one way or another, some sort of deal involving him will get done. He and his agent are essentially forcing the team into action, especially given the publicity about the waiving of the no-trade clause.

It has been reported that other teams are interested in Zidlicky, including the Florida Panthers, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers. Ultimately, he would have to sign off on any of those teams, as his clause still applies. The Wild have apparently got the memo that Zidlicky doesn't factor into their future plans, and according to the Star Tribune, have made him a scratch for Thursday's game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Zidlicky has been playing well of late, so it's more like they don't want the chemistry messed up with more time on the ice as the rumors grow, and they also don't want to risk devaluing him with injuries. It will be interesting to see if any kind of deal is imminent, given the move. The trade deadline is Feb. 27.

For more on the Minnesota Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.