v Nick Williams (Ulster) Nathan Hughes of Wasps scores a try Nathan Hughes

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Six straight losses sent the Minnesota Wild into a downward spiral, the weight of the previous game carrying over into the next. Once the Wild learned how to put games behind them, good or bad, the wins started piling up. Justin Fontaine scored three goals, Niklas Backstrom stopped 39 shots and the Wild won their fourth straight game by beating the Phoenix Coyotes 4-1 on Thursday night. "When we were losing games, we were carrying that baggage into the next game with us," Wild coach Mike Yeo said. "Success can do some damage to you, too, like winning can. Weve been able to put that behind us and go on to the next one and recognize what we have to do." The Wild had been in a rut, plagued by shaky goaltending, injuries to key players and a big hit to their confidence. Once one of the top teams in the Western Conference, Minnesota plummeted down the standings with four straight road losses that led to two more at home to close out 2013. Once the calendar flipped, the Wild found their way again, starting with a 4-1 win over Buffalo. Minnesota followed a home win over Washington with a shootout road victory over the Kings and backed that up with another superb game against the Coyotes. Fontaine scored late in the first period, gave the Wild a two-goal lead on a power play after a strange bounce in the third and closed out his first career hat trick with an empty-net goal. Kyle Brodziak had a goal and an assist, Matt Cook had two assists and Backstrom was superb, winning his third straight start after allowing 17 goals the previous four. The win moved the Wild ahead of the Coyotes for the eighth spot in the Western Conference with 53 points. "We have a lot of young guys following the leadership and were playing the kind of game we need to play," Fontaine said. The Coyotes had their chances. They doubled Minnesotas shot total in the first period and had numerous good scoring chances, including one shot by Lauri Korpikoski that hit the crossbar. Mikkel Boedker was the only Phoenix player to score, doing it on a power play early in the second period, leaving the Coyotes a bit disheartened after their third loss in four games. "We had opportunities to score and didnt score," Coyotes captain Shane Doan said. "Give them credit that they found ways to score when they got theirs and we didnt. In a game like that, you have to put as much onus on the guys trying to score as the guys who are trying to stop them." Phoenix came out firing, outshooting Minnesota 15-7 in the first period. The Wild scored first, though, thanks to a turnover by Phoenix defenceman Keith Yandle. Trying to clear the puck under pressure in front of the crease, Yandle sent it right to the slot, where Fontaine gathered it and beat Mike Smith to the glove side late in the first period. The Coyotes kept up the pressure early in the second period and tied it on a power play when Boedker spun around and slipped a backhander under Backstrom just before he fell to the ice. Phoenix continued to generate nearly twice as many shots, but Minnesota scored the next goal early in the third period. This one came on a defensive miscue as well: Yandle was caught pinching in Minnesotas zone, Brodziak ended up with a partial breakaway and sent a wrister that went off Smith into the goal. Fontaine put Minnesota up 3-1 a few minutes later when he fought off Antoine Vermette and flicked in a one-handed shot as he was going down. Smith had circled behind the goal to play Jason Pominvilles dump-in and had no chance of getting back when the puck caromed off the boards to the front of the goal. Phoenix tried to pick up the pressure, but couldnt get anything past Backstrom and Fontaine closed it out with his empty-netter. "We had a couple little spurts here and there, but to score youve got to go hard to the net, especially when theyre playing real tight," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "Their goaltender gives them a (good) game, they play tight and we couldnt do enough to get inside to get opportunities and score on our opportunities." Notes: Phoenix D Oliver Ekman-Larsson returned after missing two games with an upper-body injury. ... Wild LW Zach Parise missed his eighth straight game with a lower-body injury and Mikko Koivu missed his second straight with a broken ankle. They have a combined 23 goals and 39 assists. ... Thursday was the 10-year anniversary of Coyotes G Brian Boucher setting the modern-day NHL record with his fifth consecutive shutout -- against Minnesota. 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Mike Moustakas Jersey .C. -- Duke sophomore Rodney Hood is entering the NBA draft.We have put the best of the Aviva Premiership up against the best in the Guinness PRO12 in our head-to-head teams of the season. Players must have played at least 10 games in their domestic leagues this season to be included. Who wins?15: Charles Piutau (Wasps) v Dan Evans (Ospreys) Charles Piutau has lit up the Ricoh Arena Despite the wealth of stock the All Blacks boast on the wing, its hard to imagine that Charles Piutau would not have boasted a World Cup winners medal, had he opted to stay in New Zealand in the long run. Instead, he opted for a stint in Europe, and Wasps were the immediate beneficiaries of that decision as he lit the Ricoh Arena up from day one. He will be missed when he heads to Ulster. Dan Evans v Charles Piutau 112 Carries 237 877 Metres made 1601 16 Clean breaks 18 37 Defenders beaten 53 19 Catches from kicks 87 Source: Opta Dan Evans stats for the season are incredible. He carried the ball more than any of his team-mates, making 1,601 metres in the process - almost double the next best, which was 845m from Sam Davies. His six tries were also the most of any of the Ospreys.14: Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath) v Matt Healy (Connacht) Matt Healy statistics for Connacht are head and shoulders above his colleagues When Eddie Jones announced his England training camp squad on Sunday, there was room for Semesa Rokoduguni, and after the season hes had with Bath, its easy to see why. Its always tough to catch the national coachs eye when your side isnt quite firing, but with 12 Premiership tries - more than a quarter of the team total of 47 - the Fijian-born flyer has done just that. Matt Healy v Semesa Rokoduguni 12 Tries 9 132 Carries 147 25 Clean breaks 30 38 Defenders beaten 68 1294 Metres gained 1033 Connacht finished second in the PRO12 standings after scoring the fourth-most tries out of any of the teams, with Matt Healy leading the way. The 27-year-old touched down nine times for Pat Lams men, and made 1,294 metres with ball in hand - the second-most after 1,455 from Tiernan OHalloran.13: Elliot Daly (Wasps) v Bundee Aki (Connacht) Elliot Daly offers a long-range kicking option to Wasps Elliot Dalys rise to prominence saw him capped by Eddie Jones in this years Six Nations, but there were many calling for his place in the England set-up months beforehand. The 23-year-old has been in superb form for Wasps throughout the season, breaking up midfield defences as well as offering a long-range boot for clearances and three-pointers. Bundee Aki v Elliot Daly 6 Tries 2 251 Carries 99 943 Metres gained 588 93 Defenders beaten 25 7 Turnovers won 4 Bundee Aki was named Players Player of the Year at the Guinness PRO12 awards, and had already been named as Connachts player of the year, by both fans and his team-mates, after an outstanding season that saw him score six tries in 26 appearances. His season has gone from strength to strength - a vital key to the Connacht cause.12: Johnny Leota (Sales Sharks) v Ben Teo (Leinster) Leinsters Ben Teo may yet feature for England under Eddie Jones Johnny Leota has benefited from the slick distribution of Danny Cipriani to notch up six tries, but hes been just as useful in setting up tries through midfield devastation. Daly proved that size isnt everything with the way he unlocked defences with his subtle touches, but Leota certainly showed that bulk counts for a lot. Ben Teo v Johnny Leota 221 Carries 72 776 Metres gained 249 69 Defenders beaten 16 121 Tackles completed 64 9 Turnovers won 2 Ben Teo was another award winner at the end of the season, winning Leinsters Players Player of the Year. He will certainly have awoken some interest from Eddie Jones, but time will tell if the England boss will pick the league convert.11: Christian Wade (Wasps) v Craig Gilroy (Ulster) Christian Wade scored six tries against Worcester There are not many players in the Premiership who create the same buzz as Christian Wade with ball in hand. His defence has drawn a fair amount of criticism, but hes made opposition defences look chaotic at times with his sidestep and pace off the mark. Hes been the ultimate finisher on the wing for Wasps all season. Craig Gilroy v Christian Wade 18 Tries 12 184 Carries 101 29 Clean breaks 26 57 Defenders beaten 43 1405 Metres gained 930 Craig Gilroy topped the Ulster stats in tries scored, metres made, defenders beaten and clean breaks - an enormous contribution. With a semi-final clash coming up against rivals Leinster, Ulster will want their top performer to bring his best game to Dublin.10: Owen Farrell (Saracens) v Sam Davies (Ospreys) Ospreys Sam Davies has excelled in the No 10 jersey Owen Farrell may be No 12 in Eddie Jones England, but hes been the stand-out fly-half in the Premiership this season. Hes slotted 75% of his attempts on goal and marshalled the Saracens attack to the top of the table and a home semi-final. His steely nerves will serve his club well in the play-offs. Sam Davies v Owen Farrell 152 Points 98 154 Carries 41 845 Metres gained 184 33 Defenders beaten 4 5 Try assists 0 With Dan Biggar at Ospreys, there is no shortage of quality at their disposal, but Sam Davies proved that there is depth at the club too. Biggar edged Davies in goal kicks, his 72% success rate slightly better than Davies 69%, but the way Davies was able to pull the strings while in charge was impressive. 9: Will Chudley (Exeter Chiefs) v Kieran Marmion (Connacht) Will Chudley has set the tempo for a Chiefs charge The Chiefs have made it into the semi-finals for the first time in their history, and though there were many factors that took them there, the tempo at which they play the game has played a major part. Will Chudleys ability to get his side on the front foot has dismantled teams visiting Sandy Park, and has set up an interesting play-off tussle with Wasps in two weeks time. Kieran Marmion v Will Chudley 4 Tries 4 4 Try assists 7 981 Completed passes 1111 13 Clean breaks 10 12 Defenders beaten 16 Livewire scrum-half Kieran Marmion has pushed his side from the get-go this season. Calm in delivery, the No 9 ensured that Connachts exciting backs were able to unleash attacking phases while opposition defences scrambled to keep up.1: Mako Vunipola (Saracens) v Rob Evans (Scarlets) Rob Evans stood out despite a Scarlets slide Mako Vunipola has been in a tussle with Joe Marler for the England No 1 jersey, and hes pipped his rival in our Premiership team of the season. The loosehead prop was in the top five forwards in carries for the team in the domestic competition with 75, and was invaluable in the set piece. Saracens earned their reputation playing a simple game, and that game starts upfront. Rob Evans v Mako Vunipola 88 Tackles made 82 10 Tackles missed 13 1 Turnovers won 4 1.dddddddddddd46m Average gain per carry 1.43m 13 Penalties conceded 15 Rob Evans cemented himself as one of Warren Gatlands faithful tight five with a good showing in the Six Nations, despite an under-par showing by Wales overall. The strong loosehead has continued that form, though he could not help Scarlets retain their top-four status as they slipped out of semi-final contention.2: Harry Thacker (Leicester) v Tom McCartney (Connacht) Harry Thacker has been pin-point in the Leicester lineout Harry Thackers work in the loose has been exemplary, but crucially for Richard Cockerills side, it does not come at the expense of the set piece. Hes thrown the ball in 107 times and only lost seven, a completion rate of 94% which would made a Leicester hooker of any generation smile. Tom McCartney v Harry Thacker 91% Lineout success 94% 170 Tackles made 91 9 Tackles missed 18 177 Carries 116 1.6m Average gain per carry 3.5m Tom McCartney may not boast the same lineout success as his Premiership counterpart in this case, but to have a 91% lineout completion when youve thrown the ball in over 200 times speaks volumes. Connachts backs may be stealing the headlines, but their forwards were laying the foundations from September.3: John Afoa (Gloucester) v WP Nel (Edinburgh) WP Nel has been a rock for Edinburgh It hasnt been the most memorable season for the Cherry and Whites, but John Afoa has shored up the scrum in the No 3 jersey. He was also in the top 10 for tackles made by Gloucester players throughout the campaign. WP Nel v John Afoa 85 Tackles made 113 16 Tackles missed 14 2 Turnovers won 0 1 Tries 0 13 Penalties conceded 24 Edinburgh struggled this season, but were once again more than solid at the set piece, with WP Nel at the heart of it all. The Scotland international kept opposition scrums behind the advantage line, while also making it into the top 10 for Edinburgh tacklers over the course of the PRO12 season.4: Maro Itoje (Saracens) v Leone Nakarawa (Glasgow) Maro Itoje has already established himself as a big figure at Saracens Another Saracens lock who stole the ball seven times during the season, and another Saracens lock who has risen to prominence during this seasons campaign. His stock in English rugby has risen sharply, with four Test caps the reward for outstanding domestic and European form. Despite his youth, he is already a senior player in the Saracens dressing room. Leone Nakarawa v Maro Itoje 205 Carries 78 67 Offloads 3 44 Defenders beaten 13 96 Tackles completed 100 58 Lineouts won 27 Leone Nakarawa features for Fiji in the Paris 7s this weekend, which is testament to the style of play he employs as a second rower. Hes been a favourite son in Glasgow for some time, helping them to a PRO12 title last season, and a semi-final at the least this year. He is off to Racing 92 at the conclusion of this campaign, so the Warriors faithful will hope he goes out in style.5: George Kruis (Saracens) v Aly Muldowney (Connacht) Connachts Ronan Loughney and Aly Muldowney celebrate after the win over Munster In an interview with Sky Sports last week, Kruis said despite the Grand Slam, improvement was the order of the day. Its the kind of attitude that has ensured he and Maro Itoje have formed a formidable second-row pairing for club and country. Kruis has become a menace in the lineout on opposition throws, stealing seven throws while taking the ball 43 times from a Saracens feed. Aly Muldowney v George Kruis 79 Lineouts won 46 4 Lineout steals 7 183 Tackles completed 100 7 Tackles missed 12 181 Carries 50 The flair brought by Nakarawa would be perfectly balanced with the hard-working Muldowney. The Connacht second rower ensured the tight five and pack as a whole were full of grit, but also possessed the skill to contribute in the loose. He will likely face off against Nakarawa in the semi-finals, and as they say in boxing, styles make fights...6: Jack Clifford (Harlequins) v CJ Stander (Munster) Harlequins Jack Clifford scores a try against Saracens Clifford is another young star of the English game. In terms of top individual performers for Harlequins, the 23-year-old was in the top 10 for carries, metres made, defenders beaten and tackles. Its been an all-round contribution from Clifford on the side of the scrum. CJ Stander v Jack Clifford 151 Tackles completed 91 11 Tackles missed 12 9 Turnovers won 1 3.21m Average gain per carry 4.3m 31 Defenders beaten 18 A fantastic season for club and country, from CJ Stander. Ireland were a shadow of their 2015 selves in this years Six Nations, but the burly loose forward did all the difficult things all day long. He plays the same role for Munster, throwing his body at a line of defenders several times per game, which earned him this seasons Zurich Irupa Players Player of the Year award.7: George Smith (Wasps) v Sam Underhill (Ospreys) Sam Underhill of the Ospreys is a rising star on the side of the scrum Its hard to imagine that Smith retired from international rugby - for the first time - in 2010. He has arrived at the Ricoh Arena and dominated the breakdown for Wasps, topping the table for steals in a Wasps jersey. The Australian has been a big figure on the field, and will need to step up twice more if hes to contribute to Premiership silverware this year. Sam Underhill v George Smith 96 Tackles made 195 18 Tackles missed 24 5 Turnovers won 9 3.4m Average gain per carry 2.2m 12 Defenders beaten 20 Sam Underhill is an undoubted talent for the future. Just 19 years old, the flanker has at times out-performed some of the seasoned loose forwards in Wales, including the likes of Justin Tipuric and Sam Warburton. A menace when the ball is on the ground, and a thundering tackler too.8: Nathan Hughes (Wasps) v Nick Williams (Ulster) Nathan Hughes of Wasps scores a try Nathan Hughes qualifies for England next month, and everything points to him featuring for Eddie Jones team almost immediately. He will have to tussle with Billy Vunipola for international honours, but in domestic competition he has stood above all others. He carried more times than any other Wasps player with 235 - the second highest being George Smith with 83 less - and proved near impossible to stop with the ball. Theres plenty more to come from Dai Youngs battering ram. Nick Williams v Nathan Hughes 124 Tackles made 131 9 Turnovers won 7 139 Carries 245 410 Metres gained 922 30 Defenders beaten 52 From battering ram to wrecking ball. The style of Nick Williams may not have been to everyones taste, but it was almost impossible to stop. Fearless and unwilling to take a backward step, the big No 8 terrorised the fringes of each ruck and maul, and was no slouch with ball in hand either. A loss to Ulster as he heads for Cardiff to play for the Blues. Also See: Barnes talking points Follow @SkySportsRugby Cipriani wins England recall WATCH: PRO12 highlights ' ' '