Wild Game Day number 50 Wild Record (33-11-5 71 pts) Road Record (16-5-5)
Site: Scotia Bank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta
Time: 9:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results: 2/17 Wild 5 @ Flames 3 3/24 Flames 2 @ Wild 6 4/9 Flames 2 @ Wild 1
Last result: 11/15 Flames 1 @ Wild 0 12/2 Wild 2 @ Flames 3(SO)
The Wild return to the site of their last regulation road loss tonight in Calgary. It has been just over two months to the day since the Wild last played a road game without gaining at least a point in the standings, November 29th to be exact. An amazing 12-0-2 record for the Wild on the road since that loss. The Flames have been a thorn in the Wild's side of late taking the last three meetings between the two all by the same one goal margins.
Last night saw the Wild come out flying as they peppered the Oilers net early and often. It took a while but finally Tyler Graovac was able to bury his own rebound for his first of two goals at the 13:09 mark of the 1st period. Jason Zucker then netted his 15th of the season with just 3 seconds remaining in the 1st to give the Wild the 2-0 lead heading to the locker room. The Zucker goal was a backbreaker for the Oilers, it was first a goal in the final seconds of a period which are always momentum shifters, but this goal was also of the leaky variety, making it that much worse.
The Oilers did make the game competitive in the second period where the teams traded two goals apiece. The Wild took control in the third period snuffing out any thought of an Oiler comeback or Wild collapse. A good sign for the Wild who had been susceptible to letting leads evaporate lately.
Projected lines for tonight: 22-12-3 64-9-16 11-56-29 7-44-10
20-46 6-24 39-4
40
Tonight should be another great test for Bruce Boudreau's team as they come off of last night's win going into another tough building against a Flames team that has had their number the last three meetings.
The lineup should look the same as last night tonight in Calgary, with the exception of the return of All-Star Devan Dubnyk to the Wild crease. Last night Darcy Kuemper played exceptionally well in a hostile environment. A great sign for the Wild as they look ahead to a fast and furious last two months of the season with the Wild playing their final 20 games over a 35 day stretch.
With today's events in St. Louis, the dismissal of Ken Hitchcock and the naming officially of his successor, former Wild coach Mike Yeo, it is even more obvious how fragile team's phsyce can be. We are experiencing the highs of having a team that is all in on the same page with the coaching staff and players alike. That has been missing in years past here in Minnesota, but something that is not to be taken for granted ever.
It's always a Hockey Day in the State of Hockey!
Let's Play Hockey!
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