An unlikely offensive source helped the Minnesota Wild gain an important two points.
Martin Skoula scored with 1:15 left in overtime and Minnesota gained sole possession of the division lead with a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.
Marian Gaborik also scored for Minnesota, which moved two points ahead of Calgary atop the Northwest Division, and five points ahead of Colorado and Vancouver, which lost 4-1 in Chicago.
Standing at the right of the crease, Skoula took a pass from Gaborik below the goal line and poked the puck between the pads of Erik Ersberg.
"I was just kind of waiting for the whistle, but nobody blew the whistle. I kept looking and it was in the net," Skoula said. It was his first goal in 23 games, and third in 145 outings with Minnesota.
The last seven Wild wins have all been by one goal. Minnesota has won 21 games by one goal, tying the New York Islanders for tops in the league.
"This is a good way to learn how to play under pressure a little bit and when there's a tight game," Gaborik said. "We need to do a big push, and I think this is going to be a good learning experience for us to go to playoffs."
The Hockey News: Headlines: Martin Skoula's overtime goal lifts Wild past Kings 2-1
Martin Skoula's overtime goal lifts Wild past Kings 2-1 (CP) 
