(My Sportsbook) - The
Calgary Flames will attempt to gain ground on the first-place Minnesota Wild in the Northwest Division standings when the two clubs face off tonight in a key clash from the Pengrowth Saddledome.
Minnesota comes into Alberta owning a slim three-point edge on both Calgary and Vancouver in the competitive Northwest, but the Wild were able to put some distance between them and their competition with Friday's hard-fought 2-1 decision over the Canucks in Vancouver.
Branko Radivojevic's goal early in the third period gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead and the Wild held on behind a 30-save effort from goaltender Niklas Backstrom to win for the third time in four games.
Brian Rolston also scored for Minnesota, which improved to 19-15-4 on the road and will be playing the third test of a four-game trek that concludes Monday in Edmonton. The Wild started the trip with a 4-3 shootout loss to Pacific Division leader San Jose on Wednesday.
Minnesota may find the going tougher tonight, since Calgary has won four straight times against the Wild and has taken five of the six encounters between these divisional foes this season.
The Wild also haven't had much success when visiting the Saddledome in recent years. Minnesota is 1-11 with one tie in its last 13 appearances in Calgary and has lost all three games there this season.
The Flames also enter this showdown having notched a point in seven straight home outings (5-0-2), including Thursday's 2-1 triumph over fellow Northwest member Colorado.
Calgary made first-period goals by Craig Conroy and Daymond Langkow stand up, as netminder Miikka Kiprusoff needed to make just 15 saves to protect the early lead.
Kiprusoff will try to build upon his excellent career numbers against Minnesota this evening. The 2006 Vezina Trophy winner is 18-5-2 with a tie and a 1.70 goals against average in 26 lifetime starts versus the Wild and has been in net for all five of the Flames' wins over Minnesota this season.
Calgary enters tonight's play tied with Vancouver for sixth place in the Western Conference playoff race, with Colorado lurking just two points behind the pair.
