ST. PAUL (Minnesota), Jan 5: Andrew Brunette and Lubomir Sekeras scored two powerplay goals in the first period to guide Minnesota Wild to a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators Friday.

Brunette and Sekeras took advantage of power plays less than five minutes apart to help the Wild snap a three game losing streak.

It was defence over offense that won the game for the Wild, who held Nashville to five shots over the final 20 minutes. Wild goalie Manny Fernandez made 19 saves.

Brunette took advantage of a tripping penalty on Predators defenceman Karlis Skratins.

Sergei Zholtok fired a slap shot and Brunette gathered in the puck. Brunette put a backhander past Mike Durham.

Brunette has four goals and five assists points in eight of his last nine games.

The powerplay goals ended a 19 game drought for Minnesota with the man advantage.

Friday’s results:

MINNESOTA 2 Nashville 1

CHICAGO 2 Tampa Bay 0

Florida 2 ANAHEIM 1

SAN JOSE 5 Phoenix 3 —Reuters