ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The Minnesota Wild found even more open

space than usual against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Wes Walz scored on two breakaways -- once on a three-on-none --

as the Wild ran their unbeaten streak to five games with a 5-2

victory Saturday night over the Blue Jackets.

"To be honest, we play so many tight-checking games, it was

nice to actually have a two-goal lead," Walz said.

The Wild, who endured an eight-game stretch in which they went

2-4-2 and scored just eight goals, have scored 17 in the last five

games.

Columbus has just 11 goals in its eight-game winless streak

(0-7-1).

"All the teams have times like that," Minnesota coach Jacques

Lemaire said. "When you are going through hard times, there is

always the tough break you are getting that kills you."

Walz scored a short-handed goal in the first period and the Blue

Jackets were outscored on their own power play for the second

straight night. Columbus remained the only NHL team without a road

victory, falling to 0-11-1-2 away from Ohio.

"It's something we want to erase every time we are on the

road," said Columbus forward Geoff Sanderson, who had a goal.

"It's definitely an issue in our locker room right now."

Andrei Zyuzin had a goal and two assists and Antti Laaksonen

had a pair of assists for the Wild, who evened their record

(14-14-6) for the first time since Nov. 19.

The Blue Jackets needed help from the Wild to get their first

goal. Sanderson had his centering pass deflect off the leg of

Zyuzin and past goalie Dwayne Roloson.

Columbus went 0-for-13 on the power play and gave up a

short-handed goal in a 2-1 loss to Calgary on Friday night. The

Blue Jackets went 0-for-5 Saturday.

"I think confidence is a big part of it right now," Sanderson

said. "Especially coming off the last game, our team is really

fragile right now."

Walz's short-handed tally opened the scoring, and Matt Johnson

made it 2-0 at 5:57 of the first period on a nifty one-timer off a

pass by Andrew Brunette.

Sanderson cut Minnesota's lead in half before the end of the

first, but Zyuzin answered with a slap shot from above the right

circle at 9:21 of the second period.

Walz completed the three-man breakaway for his eighth goal at

13:09 to make it 4-1.

"I think the last time I had a three-on-oh was last year, playing

with my son on the outdoor rink," Walz joked.

Trevor Letowski of Columbus and Sergei Zholtok of the Wild

traded goals in the third period.

Game notes

Minnesota C Darby Hendrickson, an original member of the

Wild, cleared waivers Friday and will report to the Wild's AHL

affiliate in Houston. Eric Chouinard, acquired by Minnesota in a trade with Philadelphia on Wednesday, made his first appearance for the Wild. ... Minnesota is one of only six teams in the NHL that does not have a double-digit goal scorer. ... Columbus F Tim Jackman, recalled from Syracuse of the AHL on Friday, made his NHL debut Saturday night.