wild gameday
8 P.M. at CALGARY • SADDLEDOME • FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: The Wild, after losing 11 of 13, is 3-1-1 in its past five games and coming off a 2-1 victory Tuesday at Edmonton. The eighth-place Flames, seven points ahead of the Wild, have won five of their past six. The Wild went 2-0-1 against the Flames last season and is 8-4-1 in its past 13 at Calgary. Before that it was 3-18-4.
Players to watch: Flames D Mark Giordano, a Norris Trophy contender, leads NHL defensemen with 41 points. D TJ Brodie is tied for 11th with 30 points and leads the NHL with a plus-25. LW Johnny Gaudreau is tied for the team lead with 15 goals. C Jiri Hudler is tied for 25th in the NHL with 41 points. Wild G Devan Dubnyk, acquired Jan. 14 from Arizona, is 3-1 with a 1.97 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. He is 6-5-3 against Calgary with a 2.42 goals-against average and .914 save percentage. C Mikko Koivu, whose four-game point streak ended Tuesday, has 26 points in 50 career games against Calgary. LW Zach Parise, who had a four-game goal streak snapped, has 13 points in 12 games against Calgary.
Numbers: The Flames are 19-8-1 against the West this season. … The Flames have 59 third-period goals, tied with Tampa Bay for the league lead, and lead the league with 887 blocked shots.
Injuries: Wild D Ryan Suter (lower body) and LW Matt Cooke (death in the family) are probable; D Keith Ballard (concussion) is out. Flames C Sam Bennett (shoulder) is day-to-day. LW Curtis Glencross (lower body) and D Ladislav Smid (undisclosed) are out.
MICHAEL RUSSO
