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Wild descent extends to six games

T.J. Oshie , Josh Harding

St. Louis Blues right wing T.J. Oshie (74) scores on Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

AP

For the first time since their losing streak began, the Minnesota Wild held their competition to just two goals. That still wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding.

Josh Harding stopped just 26 of 31 shots after a four-game absence on Saturday as the Wild blew a 3-0 lead in an eventual 5-4 loss against the New York Islanders. After that humiliating defeat, they started tonight’s contest strong, but fizzled out.

“What it came down to is we broke,” Minnesota Wild coach Mike Yeo said in his postgame presser.

St. Louis Blues forward T.J. Oshie and Jaden Schwartz each found the back of the net, but they were the only ones able to beat Harding tonight. On the other end of the ice, Ryan Suter spoiled goaltender Brian Elliott shutout bid with just 8.3 seconds left in the third period of the Blues 2-1 win.

After dropping six straight games, Minnesota is still just two points shy of the second Wild Card spot, which is currently occupied by the Phoenix Coyotes. However, Phoenix has played in four fewer contests going into its match against Edmonton tonight.

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