Didnt take advantage of some opportunities. And all those thing

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Thomas Vanek had Minnesota high on his list from the start. Hes not the first NHL free agent to do so, and the way the Wild have been progressing he probably wont be the last. Vanek agreed Tuesday to a three-year, $19.5 million contract, giving an improving lineup a potentially prolific scorer and allowing the Austrian-born left wing to settle in an area he has made his home since college. Two summers ago, the Wild turned heads by landing left wing Zach Parise and defenceman Ryan Suter. Now theyve added another top-market free agent in Vanek, whose 277 goals are the eighth-most in the NHL since his debut nine years ago. "What intrigued me the most was obviously with Zach signing here and Suter signing here, this team is getting really good and is very good," Vanek said, adding: "Im extremely thrilled to be a part of the Wild and of a group like this." According to a person with knowledge of the contract who spoke to on condition of anonymity because the team did not announce the value, Vanek will make $5.5 million this season, $6.5 million in 2014-15 and $7.5 million in 2015-16. Vanek lives with his family in Stillwater, an idyllic riverfront suburb a few miles from Xcel Energy Center. He played two seasons at the University of Minnesota before turning pro with Buffalo and called winning the national championship with the Gophers the "best thing" hes done in his hockey career. "To be a part of the Wild now and go after the big prize and having a chance to do it in Minnesota is beyond my wildest dreams," Vanek said. Vanek was the fifth overall pick by the Sabres in 2003. He had two 40-goal seasons for them, but last fall he was traded to the New York Islanders, who later dealt him to Montreal. He totalled 27 goals over 78 games with the three teams. In the playoffs with the Canadiens, he had five goals and five assists in 17 games. Vaneks production slipped at times this season, and he was even benched briefly during the post-season, but the Wild werent deterred. "It certainly wasnt my best one I can tell you that. But Ill take the blame for that," Vanek said. "Its not always easy moving around and being away from my family." Vanek will play on either the first or second line, with some combination of Parise, Jason Pominville, Charlie Coyle, Mikko Koivu and Mikael Granlund likely filling the other top five forward spots. Vaneks 113 power-play goals since his 2005-06 rookie season are the third-most in the NHL in that span. The 6-foot-2, 217-pound Vanek has the type of finishing ability around the net the Wild have lacked. "Theres no question that we do have some skill, but we dont score goals easily," coach Mike Yeo said. Vanek turned down seven-year offers, including from the Islanders. When Pominville was traded to the Wild last year, Vanek was the one who encouraged his long-time Sabres teammate. "He loved Buffalo a lot, which I did too," Vanek said. "But I told him, Youll like it there. Theres a lot of good fans. And after a week or so, he called me and said, You know what? Youre right. I do like it here a lot." Unlike in the other major pro sports, Minnesota can be a destination market in the NHL because of its hockey roots. The addition of Parise and Suter and the Wilds advancement to the Western Conference semifinals this spring were further steps toward NHL prominence. "People recognize the talent that you have. So were getting better. Were in a good place," general manager Chuck Fletcher said. Defenceman Clayton Stoner (Anaheim), left wing Matt Moulson (Buffalo) and centre Cody McCormick (Buffalo) departed the Wild as unrestricted free agents. Others in that category not expected back are left wing Dany Heatley and goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. Defenceman Nate Prosser could return for the right price. The Wild also signed defenceman Stu Bickel (one year) and centre Brett Sutter (two years) to two-way contracts, adding depth with players wholl likely bounce between AHL affiliate Iowa and the parent club. The 27-year-old Sutter, the son of Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles coach Darryl Sutter, has played in 54 career NHL games with Calgary and Carolina. Bickel, a native of Chanhassen who played one season for the Gophers, played in 67 games for the New York Rangers over a two-year span. He spent last season in the AHL. ___ AP Sports Writer John Wawrow in Buffalo, New York, contributed to this report. Wholesale Wild Jerseys . Coetzees finish, with six birdies and no bogeys, took him to 19-under 268 overall and past South African compatriots Thomas Aiken and Justin Walters, the overnight co-leaders. Coetzee was flawless on the East Course at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club to clinch his maiden title after 24 top 10 finishes. Cheap Adidas Wild Jerseys . Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer. http://www.cheapwildjerseys.com/ . 3. Trevor Ariza left them talkin about 40. Ariza made eight 3-pointers and scored a career-high 40 points to help the Washington Wizards win their sixth straight game, 122-103 over Philadelphia on Saturday night. Cheap Wild Jerseys . Chris Capuano. Shane Greene. And now, Esmil Rogers. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . Last year, Matt Kuchar closed with a 4-under 68 to beat Kevin Chappell by two strokes for his second win of the 2013 season and sixth of his career.DETROIT -- If what the Boston Bruins showed in coming back to beat the Detroit Red Wings was the resolve of a champion, it certainly wasnt obvious to goaltender Tuukka Rask. The Bruins erased a two-goal deficit in Game 4 to win 3-2 in overtime Thursday night at Joe Louis Arena and set up a chance to eliminate the Red Wings on Saturday. When they were behind and struggling, Rask didnt expect a switch to flip. "It definitely didnt look like it at times," Rask said. "It was a bit ugly at times, but then we got our stuff together and got going. Its just one of those things that we have a lot of character in this room that once we get going, we can come (back) from a deficit. But it just has to happen." It happened, thanks to goals from Torey Krug, Milan Lucic and then the game-winner by Jarome Iginla on a triple deflection that Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson was helpless to stop. The Bruins now need just one victory to set up an Atlantic Division final against the rival Montreal Canadiens. "Tonight was our toughest one in the series. Thats the way its supposed to be, it usually is, as it goes on," said Iginla, whose goal came at the 13:32 mark of overtime. "Being up now, we want to close it out. Theres no questions." One question Thursday night was how the Red Wings would benefit from the return of captain Henrik Zetterberg, who was playing his first game in two months after back surgery. The crowd of 20,066 cheered Zetterberg early and often and seemed to get even more of a spark from seeing him on the ice. "Obviously having that emotional lift by getting their captain back was big for them Im sure in the dressing room and you could hear it in the crowd, as well," Lucic said. Detroit took a 1-0 lead 11 minutes in on a power-play goal by new father Niklas Kronwall, who was arguably the Red Wings best player in Game 4. Kronwalls wife gave birth to a baby boy earlier in the day. Pavel Datsyuk, whose wife gave birth to a baby girl Wednesday, made it 2-0 just 4:27 into the second on a play orchestrated by Kronwall, who was beaming at what life had to offer outside of this loss. "Obviously it was a big day for me, a big day for me and my girl," Kronwall said. "Its something Ill never forget for sure. Rushed out of here, got there just in time to be there, and then just holding your son for the first time, its a pretty special feeling." Getting a surprise, last-minute start in place of the flu-ridden Jimmy Howard, Gustavsson wasnt tested much in the first and kept the Bruins off the board until Krugs goal 10:14 into the second. Shutout bid gone, Gustavsson also lost his best chance to pick up his first win in the Stanley Cup playoffs in his debut when Lucic scored on Bostons firrst shot of the third period.dddddddddddd. The overtime goal was just about impossible for the former Toronto Maple Leafs netminder to stop. Bruins defenceman Dougie Hamiltons shot went off Detroit forward Luke Glendenings stick, then Iginla, then Detroit defenceman Danny DeKeyser before going into the net. "We just want to get pucks on net," Hamilton said. "We were doing a good job of that. Its pucks and bodies and things like that happen." The goal was Iginlas sixth career game-winner in the playoffs and first since 2007. "Pretty fortunate goal, fortunate bounce, an ugly one. But that seems to be how a lot of those are in OT," the former Calgary Flames captain said. "It felt pretty cool to be winning an OT game in the playoffs." For the Bruins, winning Game 4 didnt happen in that instant but rather over a gradual period of time as they made this the ninth time a team erased a two-goal deficit in these playoffs. "After they took the 2-0 lead, I thought we kind of settled down a little bit and started playing our game," Boston coach Claude Julien said. From the other side, the Red Wings werent able to keep theirs up. The boost from Zetterbergs return only lasted so long, and then the Bruins chipped away. "I thought they got better as they game went on," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "As the game went on, we had more holes defensively." Trying to patch those holes is one of the big jobs moving forward for the Red Wings as they try to stave off elimination. The Bruins expect Detroit to be desperate Saturday at TD Garden and know they need to be prepared. "Well load up and well be ready," Iginla said. "Were not taking anything for granted. Its always that last game, historically, thats the toughest." NOTES -- Gustavsson said he found out just before pre-game warm-ups that there was a chance hed start in place of Howard, who led the Red Wings onto the ice. The decision was made not long before puck drop as Babcock said of Howard: "Last second, he just couldnt go." ... Zetterberg played 19:34 in his first NHL game since Feb. 8. ... Daniel Alfredsson was scratched for the Red Wings as he continues to deal with back problems. Babcock said trainers told him that Alfredsson should be good to go for Saturdays Game 5 in Boston. ... Todd Bertuzzi replaced Tomas Jurco in Detroits lineup, while Zetterberg bumped fellow Swede Joakim Andersson. ... The Bruins went with the same lineup from Game 3, which they won 3-0. ... Boston forward Daniel Paille took part in the morning skate, as Julien said he was cleared to take "a little bit of contact." Paille has been out since suffering a concussion April 12 in Game 81 of the regular season. 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