Preview: The Wild ended a five-game winless streak with a gritty shootout victory at Phoenix on Thursday. Now the team starts a five-game homestand, with Calgary as the opener. In all, the Wild will play 10 of its final 14 games at home. The Flames have won two consecutive and have gone 3-1-1 in their past five. Calgary was 10th in the Western Conference heading into Saturday's games.
Players to watch: G Matt Hackett will get the start for the Wild. He is 3-2-0-- with two of those victories coming in relief -- with a 1.88 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage. C Kyle Brodziak scored his first goal in eight games on Thursday. D Steven Kampfer scored his first goal as a Wild player in the Phoenix game. Flames LW Alex Tanguay is on fire. He had a goal and three assists in a victory over Winnipeg on Friday and has nine points in his past five games. Jarome Iginla -- the all-time leader against the Wild in points (62), goals (34) and game-winning goals (10) -- has nine points in his past five games. G Miikka Kiprusoff is 3-0-1 in his past four starts.
Numbers: The Flames lead the season series 3-1. ... Calgary has the NHL's third-best road power play (21.8 percent).
Injuries: Wild LW Guillaume Latendresse (concussion), RW Pierre-Marc Bouchard (concussion), D Mike Lundin (lower body), C Mikko Koivu (shoulder), G Niklas Backstrom (lower body) and D Justin Falk (lower body) are out. G Josh Harding (lower body) and D Clayton Stoner (lower body) are questionable. LW Cal Clutterbuck (illness) is doubtful. Calgary RW Lee Stempniak (ankle), C/W Blair Jones (ankle), C/LW Mikael Backlund (arm) and D Chris Butler (thigh) are out. RW Tim Jackman (upper body), LW/C Mike Cammalleri (upper body), LW/C Lance Bouma (upper body) and LW/RW Blake Comeau (shoulder) are questionable
KENT YOUNGBLOOD
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