Wild at Flames
THE STORY: After flirting with fate for the first two months of the season, a lack of goal scoring has finally caught up with the Minnesota Wild. The former NHL leaders bring a four-game losing skid into Tuesday's game against the equally ice-cold Calgary Flames. Both teams are 0-2-2 in their last four contests, but it's the Wild's slump that is more stunning. Minnesota was the class of the league until slipping into an offensive funk that has seen the club score only four times during its longest skid of the season. The Wild found themselves at the mercy of hot goaltending Monday as Vancouver netminder Roberto Luongo turned aside all 33 shots he faced in a 4-0 triumph. The Flames return home following a rough four-game road trip in which they lost the final three games by a goal, falling below .500 in the process. It's the third meeting between the teams so far this season.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Rogers Sportsnet West
ABOUT THE WILD (20-9-5): Despite dropping behind Chicago atop the NHL ledger, The Wild insist they aren't concerned about where they sit. "It’s not about the standings," Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom said. "It’s the way we’re playing right now and that’s not our hockey." The Wild defense has had problems keeping opponents from peppering their goaltender, surrendering more than 30 shots in six of their last seven games.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (14-15-4): A rough stretch may get even rougher for the Flames, who will be without winger Rene Bourque for games against Minnesota and Detroit. He was handed a two-game suspension by the NHL on Monday for hitting Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook from behind in a game Sunday. While Bourque has struggled for most of the season, he still ranks second in goals on a team desperate for offense.
OVERTIME:
1. The clubs split their first two games earlier in the season, with the Wild winning 3-0 in Calgary on Nov. 8 and the Flames returning the favor with a 5-2 triumph in Minnesota 19 days later.
2. Calgary forward Jarome Iginla has only four goals and three assists in the 19 games Calgary has lost this season. He's also a minus-18 in those contests.
3. Minnesota forward Dany Heatley had a six-game point streak earlier in the month, but hasn't registered a multi-point game since Nov. 8.