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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. Sean Poppen Twins Jersey . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Nelson Cruz Twins Jersey . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. https://www.cheaptwins.com/392t-sergio-romo-jersey-twins.html . The 17-year-old native of Marystown, N.L., pulled out of Skate Canada International last month in Saint John, N.B., with the same problem. Torii Hunter Jersey . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Miguel Sano Twins Jersey . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. Durham 147 for 5 (Mustard 75*, McKay 3-21) beat Leicestershire 146 for 6 (Borthwick 4-18) by five wicketsScorecardPhil Mustard atoned for Ben Stokes disappointment by thrashing an unbeaten 75 off 50 balls to propel Durham to a five-wicket win against Leicestershire in the NatWest T20 Blast.When Stokes fell for 11, lobbing a miscued drive to cover, Durham were 21 for 2 in pursuit of 146 for 6. But Gordon Muchall contributed 32 to a stand of 86 as victory was sealed with nine balls to spare at Chester-le-Street.Mustard smacked three sixes between long-on and midwicket in his 35-ball half-century and added a fourth to the same area.Scott Borthwicks career-best T20 figures of 4 for 18 ensured that the Foxes, who were put in, gained no momentum until they took 19 off each of the last two overs.Lewis Hills mixture of improvisation and orthodox clips behind square leg saw him hit the previously miserly Chris Rushworth for four successive fours in making an unbeaten 31 off 15 balls.Hill and Rob Taylor both pulled Paul Coughlin for six in the final over, but the early batsmen had been stifled by the seamers, including Mark Wood who pushed 90mph.The England paceman was making his first senior appearance of the season following two ankle operatiions and had Mark Pettini caught behind after the visiting captain laboured 17 balls for seven.ddddddddddddThat included four off a free hit when Rushworth spoilt what would have been an opening maiden by over-stepping on the sixth ball.South Africans Cameron Delport and Farhaan Benhardien had to try to capitalise on the introduction of Borthwick at 62 for 2 after ten overs. Left-hander Delport tried to smash the legspinner over midwicket, only to fall lbw for 19. Ben Raine holed out to Stokes at deep midwicket, Behardien went down the track and was bowled and in Borthwicks final over Tom Wells lofted a catch to long-on.Mark Stoneman cut the first ball of the reply for four but then sliced a catch to third man off Clint McKay, who also claimed Stokes scalp on the way to figures of 3 for 21.Durham wobbled slightly after Muchall was bowled by Neil Dexter, but Coughlin lifted the second ball he faced for a big six over long-on off Taylor in helping to complete the task.Durham moved level in fourth place in the north group with Worcestershire, who have played two games more, while Leicestershire remain bottom. ' ' '