Calgary Flames go wild to end losing streak, overtake Minnesota Wild 5-2 -NHL Update
Minnesota was high rolling with five straight victories and by having lost only three contests since the month of November kicked off in the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season, they are sitting at the second number spot in the Western
Conference.
Calgary came out strong and went wild in their scoring as the Flames overtook the Wild to end their three-game losing streak, 5-2, on Sunday night, at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States.
The Flame limited the Wild defenders to only 21 shots on their veteran goalie, Miikka Kiprusoff, while Calgary had 35 attempts on the Minnesota net.
"That's one of the best teams in the NHL, and for the most part I think we took the game to them all night," Calgary’s Lee Stempniak said. "I think it's sort of a stepping stone."
For the most part, Calgary was believed to be ending their season only 22 games in, but according to Flames captain, Jarome Iginla, that surely is not the case as they have just begun.
"People think it's over after 22 games, and we don't believe it is," Iginla said. "So this is definitely a big boost, to be able to break out goals against this team."
Calgary might be sitting at number 13 in the West with only 19 points, but having won against one of the best in the league at the moment, it certainly reassures them of the fact that they can win.
"If anything it reaffirms that we can do it. That's one of the best teams in the NHL, and for the most part I think we took the game to them all night," Stempniak added. "I think it's sort of a stepping stone."
Cal Clutterbuck scored the first goal only two minutes into the first on a power play, followed by Mark Giordano and Lee Stempniak for the tie-breaker in favour of Calgary, but was levelled once again by Nick Johnson. T.J. Brodie took the lead again for
the visitors to finish off the scoring in the first.
Alex Tanguay and Jarome Iginla scored back-to-back for Calgary in the third after a scoreless second period to insure the match.
Calgary has the next at home against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday while Minnesota is to host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.
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