*Belanger helps Wild jolt Coyotes*

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Eric Belanger snapped a tie midway through the third period as the Minnesota Wild recorded a 3-2 triumph over the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday.

Benoit Pouliot scored just 89 seconds into the second period, captain Mikko Koivu also tallied and Niklas Backstrom made 25 saves for Minnesota, which recorded its eight consecutive victory over Phoenix.

Olli Jokinen netted both a power-play and shorthanded goal and captain Shane Doan notched two assists for the Coyotes, who fell to 2-5-0 in their last seven games.

With the contest tied at 2-2 with 9:25 remaining in the third, Belanger wristed a shot from the left faceoff circle that sailed over goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov's left pad for his third goal of the season.

The tally was Belanger's first since he scored twice in the Wild's 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins in the team's season-opening contest on October 11.

Bryzgalov, who is 1-4-0 in his last five contests, made 30 saves for the Coyotes.

After originally being announced as a scratch, Wild defenseman Tomas Mojzis was in the lineup and served the penalty after his team was whistled for too many men on the ice just 1:51 into the first period. At this point, the off-ice officials noticed the miscue.

Mojzis left the game with an upper body injury in the second session.