ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Roberto Luongo was a lot better in Minnes

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ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Roberto Luongo was a lot better in Minnesota than hed been in the past. Still, he wasnt quite good enough to extend Vancouvers seven-game winning streak. Jason Pominville slipped a shot past Luongos glove in the third round of a shootout to lift the Wild to a 3-2 victory Tuesday night, the first loss by the Canucks this month. Luongo made 30 saves, including 14 in the third period and overtime, and stopped Zach Parise to open the shootout. Mikko Koivu, who had two assists for a team-high 20 this season, hit the crossbar with his shot before Pominville scored. Ryan Keslers last-chance attempt for Vancouver sailed wide right after Josh Harding stopped shots by Mike Santorelli and Chris Higgins. "Weve got to try different people, I guess, because we stink at it," Canucks coach John Tortorella said. Harding made 29 saves to win for the fifth time in his last six starts and the Wild improved to 14-3-2 at Xcel Energy Center, where Luongo fell to 3-9-3 in his career. "I dont care about that stuff. I wasnt worried about it coming into the game. I just wanted to play," Luongo said. Parise scored early for the Wild, but Charlie Coyles late goal was what bothered Luongo, who let a snap shot go between his legs to tie the game with 11:13 left in regulation. "Its a disappointing loss. Ive got to make that save there on that second goal. Thats the bottom line. I do and we win the game 2-1," Luongo said. His last start in Minnesota was Oct. 19, 2010. Pulled from the past three games he started here, Luongo gave up a total of 16 goals on those forgettable nights. "I think we need a save on the second goal, but he made some great saves in the overtime," Tortorella said. "Ive never been here with him. Its a big story that he stinks here. But I thought he played well tonight." Jannik Hansen and David Booth each scored for the second straight game for the Canucks, who won their first seven games this month by a 24-8 combined margin. Only one of those wins went past regulation. The Wild, meanwhile, improved to 12-2-5 in one-goal games. "Confidence, and just sort of an attitude as much as anything else, that theyre going to keep fighting," coach Mike Yeo said. After ignoring the advice for most of the first two periods -- Tortorella called the game "boring" until overtime -- the Wild heeded Yeos urging to send more pucks at the net down the stretch. "Teams scramble when you shoot the puck. When you keep it on the perimeter, its pretty easy to defend," Parise said, adding: "You dont want to make a habit of it, but were confident we can come back." This was the only home game for the Wild in the middle of a grueling eight-game stretch against some of the NHLs top teams. "Down by a goal, you kind of got a sense of urgency, I think," Coyle said. "And time is winding down, so you pick it up a little bit. I think weve got to play like that for the most part the whole game." NOTES: Zenon Konopka took a penalty for tripping in the second period that the crowd loudly booed. But the Canucks wanted a major, because defenceman Ryan Stanton went feet first hard into the boards and was injured. He didnt return and was wearing a boot on his left foot afterward. ... C Mikael Granlund, who has played just one shift in the last 13 games because of a concussion, returned to practice Monday and is close to being cleared to play again. ... The Higgins-Kesler-Santorelli line has 10 goals and 14 assists between them in eight games this month. ... Parises goal was the first power-play score against the Canucks during December, ending a run of seven games and 21 opportunities without one. ... Ryan Suter had an assist for the fourth straight game and was on the ice for 32:34, the 12th time in the last 21 games that he topped 30 minutes. "When the games on the line and hes playing like that, its hard not to put him out," Yeo said. . Alfredo Simon lowered his ERA to 0.86, and the Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 Friday for their 16th win in their last 17 games at the Friendly Confines. . Canada wasnt in the game from the outset. Head coach Dan Church left Calgary in the morning without addressing the players. He told The Canadian Press he felt the organization lacked confidence in his ability to defend the Olympic gold medal in February. http://www.authenticsaintssportsonline. ... ld-jersey/. Nine years later, he might have finally figured it out. He had only five rounds in the 60s in his previous eight trips. . "I had a pretty good year," the soft-spoken Granberg told TSN.ca with a grin from the teams annual rookie tournament in London. A fourth-round selection in 2010, Granberg is worth keeping an eye on with NHL training camps rolling around in less than a week. The six-foot-two, 200-pound defender may not possess the wow-inspiring theatrics of fellow prospect Morgan Rielly, but nonetheless has a chance to contribute with the Leafs when all is said and done this season. .com) - A pair of programs shooting for their 10th win of the season get together at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, as the NC State Wolfpack tangle with 22nd-ranked West Virginia during the challenge round of the Gotham Classic.MIAMI -- Josh Donaldsons two-out RBI single scored the go-ahead run from second base in the 14th inning, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Miami Marlins 7-6 Saturday. For the second game in a row, the Athletics won despite squandering a 4-0 lead. They also overcame a blown save by Sean Doolittle, whose streak of 26 2-3 innings ended when Miami scored the tying run in the ninth. Jeff Francis came on with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 14th to earn his first career save. He struck out Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Donovan Solano flied out to end the game. AL West leader Oakland has won three in a row and is 6-1 in interleague play. The Marlins have played five games lasting 13 or 14 innings this season, all since June 6, going 0-5. The As were blanked for five consecutive innings before breaking through in the 14th. Brandon Moss doubled with two out against Jacob Turner (2-6). Donaldson singled on the next pitch, and Moss barely beat the throw home from centre fielder Jake Marisnick. The RBI was Donaldsons team-high 60th this season. Jim Johnson (4-2) pitched 2 1-3 scoreless innings. The 4-hour, 47-minute game left plenty of time for oddities. Oaklands Coco Crisp scored from third on a strikeout, while teammate Jed Lowrie hit into a 5-6-3 double play. The Athletics Yoenis Cespedes was out when he rose after a slide on a steal attempt, lifted his foot off second base and was tagged. Both teams ran out of healthy position players. Tommy Milone, scheduled to pitch for Oakland on Sunday, flied out when he pinch hit in the 12th. Moss and Alberto Callaspo had two RBIs apiece for the Athletics, who scored four times in the first inning against Nathan Eovaldi. But Miami rallied for a 5-4 lead. The As also squandered a 4-0 lead in their 9-5 win Friday.dddddddddddd Athletics right fielder Josh Reddick left the game in the fourth inning with a strained right knee, and is day to day. Crisps alert baserunning helped the As score in the fifth to make it 5-all. He was at third with one outcolled away from Saltalamacchia. When Saltalamacchia threw to first for the out, Crisp sprinted home and easily beat the return throw with a headfirst slide. Sonny Gray couldnt protect Oaklands early lead. He pitched five innings and tied a season high with five runs allowed, leaving him with an ERA of 5.50 over his past six starts. The Athletics vaunted rotation has an ERA of 6.14 over the past 11 games. Miami trailed 6-5 when Giancarlo Stanton doubled with one out in the ninth, ending closer Doolittles streak of 24 consecutive batters retired. On the next pitch, Casey McGehee hit a game-tying single, snapping Doolittles streak of scoreless innings. Doolittle blew a save for the second time in 13 chances. NOTES: As C Derek Norris, who left Fridays game due to tightness in his back, did not play and did not take part in pregame drills. Its uncertain whether hell be available Sunday. ... Marlins LF Christian Yelich is expected to be activated Sunday and rejoin the starting lineup after missing two weeks with a back injury. Miami is 31-26 when he bats leadoff and 8-16 when he doesnt. . Marlins RHP Anthony DeSclafani, who left Fridays game with a bruised right forearm, is expected to make his next start as scheduled. . Before the game, Miami recalled RHP Sam Dyson from Triple-A New Orleans. ... LHP Milone (5-3, 3.89) tries to win his sixth consecutive decision Sunday when he faces the Marlins and LHP Andrew Heaney (0-2, 4.91). ' ' '