ST. PAUL, Minn. — Lou Lamoriello spent Tuesday’s game in the press box instead of on the bench, but it didn’t make a difference for the Devils.
Thomas Vanek scored twice, Devan Dubnyk stopped 30 shots and the Wild won, 6-2, to send the Devils to their fourth loss in the last seven games following a five-game win streak.
Lamoriello, the Devils’ general manager, had coached every game since firing Peter DeBoer in late December, but stayed in the press box on Tuesday. Adam Oates was flanked by Tommy Albelin and Scott Stevens on New Jersey’s bench during the game.
“I just wanted to watch the game from a little different area just to see something a little different,” Lamoriello said. “It certainly isn’t what I would have liked to have seen up there.”
Dainius Zubrus scored his first goal in 50 games for New Jersey, and Scott Gomez scored his sixth of the season with the Devils trailing by five goals in the third.
Devils goalie Cory Schneider was pulled at 1:18 of the third after a goal by Jason Pominville. He finished with 25 saves as Minnesota had 14 different players get at least a point in the game.
“We got to be stronger for Schneids for sure because he’s been awesome all year for us,” Gomez said.
Chris Stewart and Jared Spurgeon each had a goal and an assist for the Wild, and Sean Bergenheim also scored for the Wild.
Dubnyk improved to 19-4-1 with Minnesota while making his 26th consecutive start and the 200th of his career. Bergenheim’s goal was his first in seven games since being traded to the Wild in late February.