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Flames Secure Crucial Win Against Wild, Close In on Playoff Spots

Mikael Backlund started the scoring in the first period, propelling the Calgary Flames to a decisive 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Friday night. With this win, the Flames not only secured two vital points but also extended their points streak to five games, going 3-0-2 during this stretch.

Other contributors to the Flames’ offense included Yegor Sharangovich, Nazem Kadri, and Ryan Lomberg, solidifying the team’s position as they vie for playoff contention. Calgary’s record now stands at 38 wins, 27 losses, and 14 overtime losses, placing them just three points behind the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild, who currently hold the two wild-card spots in the Western Conference. With three games left in the season, the Flames will be keeping a keen eye on the results of other matches, particularly as they have a game in hand over both opponents.

The Wild saw goals from Yakov Trenin and Gustav Nyquist, both scored in the final five minutes of the game, but it was not enough to turn the tide. Minnesota’s struggles on the road continued, marking their sixth consecutive loss away from home (0-4-2).

In his sixth consecutive start, rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf was solid in net for the Flames, recording 16 saves and improving his season record to 27-16-8. In contrast, Filip Gustavsson of the Wild made 25 saves before being pulled in favor of Marc-Andre Fleury following Lomberg’s third-period goal.

Takeaways from the Game

Wild Performance: Gustavsson had previously enjoyed success against Calgary with a 5-0-2 record and a .953 save percentage. He demonstrated his skills early by thwarting multiple Flames attempts, including a remarkable diving save that kept the puck from crossing the goal line. However, the Flames broke through the defense at 16:25 when Backlund capitalized on a rebound from Blake Coleman.

Flames Defense: While Calgary’s penalty kill has struggled all season, ranking 26th overall, they have recently shown significant improvement, particularly since the 4 Nations break. During the game, they managed to kill off two consecutive penalties late in the second period while leading 3-0, allowing only two shots against during this critical time. The Flames have successfully killed 15 of their last 16 penalty situations over the past nine games, showcasing their enhanced defensive efforts.

Defining Moments