Nino Niederreiter scored the 18th hat trick in Wild history leading Minnesota to a 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres Thursday night.
The win snaps the Wild’s four-game losing streak while the Sabres have now gone five straight without a win.
The two teams combined for six first period goals including three in a 17-second span - the fastest three goals by both teams in a Wild game in franchise history.
Rasmus Ristolainen opened the scoring just over a minute into the game; however, Ryan Carter and Niederreiter quickly responded giving Minnesota a 2-1 lead just over six minutes into the opening frame.
Zemgus Girgensons fourth goal of the season tied it at two ending Wild starter Darcy Kuemper’s night early. Kuemper allowed two goals on the first two shots of the game.
Niklas Backstrom came on in relief - his first appearance on home ice since January.
Kyle Brodziak and Niederreiter’s second of the night gave Minnesota a 4-2 lead after 20 minutes. The four goals tied a Wild franchise record for goals in a period. Minnesota out-shot Buffalo 20-5 setting a new club record for shots in a period.
Jared Spurgeon picked up his third of the season giving the Wild a three-goal lead after two periods and Niederreiter completed the hat trick into an empty net with 2:28 remaining in the third.
Backstrom made 25 saves in the win while Jhonas Enroth stopped 33 shots in a losing cause.
Forward Jordan Schroeder became the 19th Minnesota native to dress for the Wild. The former Vancouver Canucks first rounder had two penalty minutes and two shots on goal in just over 12 minutes of ice time.