Wild at Flames
THE STORY: The Flames and Minnesota Wild will both try to end losing streaks when they clash Saturday in Calgary. The Flames, losers of three straight, return home after a dismal road trip where they were 2-4-1. The trip was capped off with a 9-0 romp at the hands of the defending Stanley Cup-champion Boston Bruins. Rookie goalie Leland Irving gave up six goals on 21 shots before being replaced by Miikka Kiprusoff. The Wild have lost two straight games and 10 of their last 11. They fell 3-0 to the Canucks in their last outing in Vancouver. Goalie Josh Harding made 32 saves, falling to 7-4-2 on the season. The Wild, 10-8-2 on the road, play nine of their next 12 games away from Minnesota.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, CBC, FS-N
ABOUT THE WILD (21-14-6): Minnesota, 1-6-3 in its last 10 games, is second in the Northwest Division, and sixth in the Western Conference. The Wild, once leaders in the West, have lost their offensive ways. In losing 10 of their last 11 games, the Wild have scored one or no goals in each contest. They have scored just four goals in losing their last six road games. Niklas Backstrom, who shut out the Flames on Nov. 8th in Calgary, is 12-10-4 on the season with two shutouts.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (18-19-5): Calgary, 4-5-1 in its last 10 games, is fourth is the Northwest, and 12th in the Western Conference. The Flames, however, are 10-5-2 at the Saddledome. In fact, the Flames have won five straight at home, and are 7-0-1 in their last eight home contests. After dropping the first of six games between the two teams, the Flames have won the last two, 5-2 in Minnesota and 2-1 in Calgary. Captain Jarome Iginla continues to hunt for his 500th NHL goal, sitting one shy of the mark. This will be his third attempt at the milestone.
OVERTIME:
1. The Flames' 9-0 loss to Boston was their most lopsided defeat since falling 10-1 to the Edmonton Oilers in 1996.
2. When Iginla scores his 500th goal, he will be the 42nd player in NHL history to reach the milestone - and the 15th to do so with the same team.
3. Kiprusoff is 7-0-1 in his last eight starts on home ice.