Calgary Flames look to end skid against Minnesota Wild - NHL Preview
Calgary Flames have a great opportunity to get back to winning ways when they face the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, March 22, 2012, at the Xcel Energy Center.
The Flames are on the verge of losing out on a first playoff spot in three years as their current losing streak continues and they need to change things around fast.
Calgary are on a three-game skid and just two points separate them from the coveted eighth spot in the Western Conference.
The Flames are currently 11th in the conference with 82 points and need a win against Minnesota to get back in the race.
The Wild on the other hand continue to struggle and with just two wins this month are undergoing another crisis.
Minnesota are currently 13th in the Western Conference with just 70 points.
Flames (34-26-14, 82 pts)
Calgary are once again disappointing after doing so well to get back in the playoff race with a five-game winning run.
However, recent results have not gone their way as they lost three games in a row and will need to reign in that skid soon.
The Flames last two defeats both came by 2-1 margins after the end of regulation time.
They lost to Colorado Avalanche in overtime after the offence once again failed to perform to its potential.
The Flames though played well as they took a 1-0 lead early in the first period only to see Colorado equalise eight minutes later.
Both teams failed to score in the next two-periods and it took an overtime goal from David Jones to give the Avalanche victory.
Forward Alex Tanguay was frustrated at another defeat and said after the game.
"At this time, we've got to find ways to win. We certainly put it all out there. We still feel we played a pretty solid game, had tons of chances, and they got the last break."
Wild (30-32-10, 70 pts)
Minnesota are completely out of the chase for a playoff spot but that will not stop them from looking to ruin the Flames chances of making it to the postseason.
The Wild ended their three-game skid on Monday with a wonderful 2-0 shutout of the Vancouver Canucks at home ice.
Goals from Erik Christensen and Kyle Brodziak helped the Wild to victory with goaltender Josh Harding putting in a brilliant shift as he made 33-saves to shutout the Canucks.
Captain Mikko Koivu said after the game.
"Obviously, (we're) not in the spot where we want to be. But all we can do is play as good as we can and as hard as we can the rest of the 10 games,"
Predictions
Tough to choose but Flames will be favourites to end their losing run.
Sum of goals will be less than six.
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