The Calgary Flames skate into St. Paul this late afternoon on fire! After losing at home to the Wild on April 15th, the Flames then went on to win their final 2 home games against Detroit (3-2) and Anaheim (3-1). They now end their season with their final 4 games on the road, starting today in Minnesota. In their last 5 games, they have gone 4-1-0 (compared to the Wild’s 2-2-1 record). In their last 10 games, they are 5-5-0 (compared to the Wild’s 3-6-1 record).

Meanwhile, the home town Wild are coming off of a 3 game road trip where they won the 2 games they should have won against Calgary (4-3) and Edmonton (5-3) and lost the one game they probably should have lost against San Jose (1-6). The Wild now return home for their final homestand of the season, 3 games against Calgary, L.A. and Edmonton, before finishing their season in Colorado on April 27th. The playoffs begin April 30th.

Sportsclubstats.com has the Wild rated with a 96.6% chance of making the playoffs. Seeing that stat fulfilled begins tonight against a Flames squad that is re-energized from recent home success against 2 teams currently in the playoff hunt, thereby giving them confidence that they can also play with and beat the Wild. For the Wild, the tune up for the playoffs should begin today.

The Wild have played very well this season against Northwest Division opponents having gone 11-3-2 so far this season with 4 more games against teams from our division starting today. Calgary has struggled against Northwest Division opponents having only gone 6-8-3 with tonight’s game against the Wild being the last divisional match up for the Flames. Notwithstanding, in their last 10 games against the Wild, they are 5-2-1-2, but the Wild have won 2 in a row and 4 of the last 5 games over Calgary. 6 of the last 10 games have been decided by 1 goal. In St. Paul, Minnesota, the Wild have won the past 2 games, but in extra time, while 6 of the last 10 games in Minnesota have been decided by 1 goal. The last 3 games between these 2 teams in Minnesota have been decided by 1 goal with the Wild going 2-1-0 in those games. This season, the Wild lead the season series over the Flames, 3 games to 1.

Calgary has scored 119 goals on the year, but have allowed 145, while the Wild have only scored 111 goals, but have only allowed 113. Both teams have mid-ranked power plays in the NHL with the Wild being absolutely horrible at home (27th overall). Perhaps from listening to the fans always yelling “SHOOT!!!!!!” Both teams also have mid-ranked penalty kills, but the Flames perform this specialty better on the road (5th overall). The Wild are the better team when their opponent scores first, when trailing or tied at the end of the first period and in overtime.

The Flames are led by Mike Cammalleri (12 goals/18 assists) and Lee Stempniak (9 goals/21 assists). The Wild are obviously led by Zach Parise (16 goals/19 assists), Jason Pominville (14 goals/20 assists), Mikko Koivu (10 goals/24 assists) and Ryan Suter (4 goals/28 assists). These players are each team’s point leaders with 30 or more points. In supporting roles for the Flames, you have Curtis Glencross (15 goals/11 assists), Alex Tanguay (11 goals/16 assists), Matt Stajan (5 Goals/18 assists), Jiri Hudler (9 goals/16 assists) and Dennis Wideman (6 goals/16 assists). For the Wild, the supporting cast consists of Devin Setoguchi (12 goals/13 assists), Matt Cullen (7 goals/19 assists) and Pierre-Marc Bouchard (7 goals/12 assists).

The Wild have won 20 games in regulation this season. Only Chicago, L.A., Anaheim and St. Louis have more regulation wins in the Western Conference.

This morning on Twitter, The Hockey News tweeted that Minnesota’s Jonas Brodin is their favorite to win the Calder Trophy given his ranking of 1st for time on ice for rookies.

Lastly, it occurred to me that should the Wild’s AHL affiliate, the Houston Aeros, lose in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs, perhaps Matt Dumba gets some playing time on the Wild blue line in the playoffs given his solid play all year long and recently in his pro debut for Houston after finishing his season in the WHL.

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