CALGARY, ALBERTA - The big question now is who starts in goal Thursday in San Jose.
The Wild has a goaltending controversy, but only because of an embarrassment of riches.
After backup Josh Harding reeled off four victories in a row and was named the NHL's First Star of the Week, Niklas Backstrom made his first start in 12 days Tuesday night and shut out the Calgary Flames 3-0.
Backstrom made 41 saves, his most ever in a shutout, for his 23rd career blanking to lift the Wild to a fifth victory in a row -- Minnesota's longest winning streak since late 2009.
"I don't know that we could make a bad decision as a coaching staff right now as far as who we're going to put in net," coach Mike Yeo said.
Added Dany Heatley, "They're either shutting it out or letting one in a net. They do that every night, we're going to win a lot of games."
Darroll Powe's first goal with Minnesota was the winner, Heatley scored his 130th career power-play goal and Guillaume Latendresse scored into an empty net as the Wild, the NHL's second-best defensive team at 1.79 goals per game, opened a five-game road trip.
The Wild killed seven power plays, including a five-minute major to Nick Johnson that Yeo hopes the NHL will rescind. Johnson was assessed a match penalty and game misconduct for allegedly head-butting Flames captain Jarome Iginla during a fight.