Ducks can’t keep pace with Wild

Mikko Koivu was right on target -- again.

Koivu scored the lone goal in a shootout to give the Minnesota Wild a 3-2 victory over the Ducks on Friday night in a matchup of two of the top teams in the Western Conference.

He has three shootout goals this season but only two goals in regulation. The second-year player is seven for nine in his career in shootouts.

“It’s a small part of the game,” he said. “Three so far, it’s not a lot to be honest. But the thing we have to keep doing here is play like this.”

Minnesota’s second shooter, Koivu skated down the slot, went left and cut back to his right before lifting a backhander past Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

Manny Fernandez stopped Teemu Selanne on the Ducks’ third attempt to secure the victory.

“I’ll be ready for that move next time,” Giguere said.

Ryan Shannon and Ryan Getzlaf also missed for the Ducks, and Pavol Demitra was unsuccessful for the Wild.

It was the third shootout loss for the Ducks (7-0-3). The Wild is 5-0 in overtime and shootouts and 9-1-0 overall, the lone loss to the Ducks on Oct. 20.

“We knew it was going to be tough to win in regulation against these guys. I had a little bit of an idea that this might go all the way again tonight,” Fernandez said.

Brian Rolston and Nick Schultz scored regulation goals for Minnesota, which has won all seven home games this season, and 10 straight at home overall.

Andy McDonald and Chris Kunitz scored for the Ducks in their first loss in five games.

“We would have liked to get that extra point in the shootout, but we played a good road game,” Ducks defenseman Shane O’Brien said.

Off to the best starts in their team histories, the Wild and Ducks entered the game tied with Dallas for the top spot in the conference with 16 points. Dallas lost Friday night, falling, 4-3, at home to Detroit.