Sean Hill, Branko Radivojevic and Brian Rolston scored and Mikko Koivu added three assists for the Wild, who started a four-game homestand with a victory to leap-frog Calgary and move into first place in the Northwest Division.

Minnesota's Niklas Backstrom had 31 saves, and got some help from a defense that left him exposed in a 5-3 loss to the Oilers on Monday night.

The Wild had the fast start in this one, scoring two goals on their first four shots to make things tougher on Edmonton, which had won 12 of its last 15 games to vault back into playoff contention.

Fernando Pisani scored for the Oilers.

Blue Jackets 4, Blackhawks 0

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Clay Wilson had a goal and his first assist in his second NHL game to lead Columbus to victory over Chicago.

Wilson, Jiri Novotny and Michael Peca scored in the third period after Joakim Lindstrom put Columbus ahead in the first period.

The Blue Jackets' Fredrik Norrena made 17 saves for his second shutout of the season, as Columbus ended a three-game losing streak.

Wilson, a defenseman called up Tuesday from Syracuse of the American Hockey League, assisted on the power-play goal by Lindstrom at 4 minutes, 49 seconds of the second and later made it 2-0 off a centering pass from Nikolai Zherdev at 7:13 of the third.

Avalanche 6, Canucks 3

DENVER - Milan Hejduk scored twice and Peter Forsberg had three assists, including two in a four-goal spurt in the second period of Colorado's win over Vancouver.

The Avalanche broke a seventh-place tie with the Canucks in the tight Western Conference playoff race. The Canucks lost their third straight.

Crosby set to return. Sidney Crosby, sidelined for 28 of the Pittsburgh Penguins' last 31 games with a sprained right ankle, went through practice yesterday without problems and plans to play tonight against the New York Islanders.