CALGARY — The Calgary Flames defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-2 at Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday thanks to goals from Mikael Backlund and Nazem Kadri.
With one game left to play, Calgary pulled within three points of both Minnesota and the St. Louis Blues for the Western Conference’s wild card spots in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“It only matters if we keep it going, but it’s important for our group to be in these meaningful games this time of year and to find a way to win them,” Ryan Lomberg, a Flames player, said. Tonight was, in my opinion, one of our best and most comprehensive games. And that reflects well on our team. If we are unable to accomplish it again, it doesn’t really matter because we have the trust in one another to keep going.
Yegor Sharangovich and Lomberg also scored for the Flames (38-27-14), who have won seven of eight games (4-1-3) and five in a row (3-0-2). Dustin Wolf saved sixteen times.
We have to fight on,” Wolf remarked. “We must prevail in games. Regardless of the method by which we get in, it is clear that we will want outside assistance and that we must take charge of our own game in order to obtain the last three. However, this one is undoubtedly helpful.
The Wild, who have lost five of seven games (3-0-4), scored goals from Gustav Nyquist and Yakov Trenin (43-30-7). After Filip Gustavsson let up four goals on 29 shots, Marc-Andre Fleury took his place and made three saves.
Mats Zuccarello, a forward for Minnesota, stated, “I don’t think we as a team performed to a level we expect in a game like this.” Undoubtedly, it’s disappointing. Since this season passes quickly, you must move on, talk about it tomorrow, most likely show some video, and resume your work. We must win a hockey match.
The Wild, whose victory would have guaranteed them a postseason spot, visit the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
John Hynes, the coach of Minnesota, stated, “The problem is that when you have a strong identity and know what gives you the best chance to win, you know what it is, but there needs to be a commitment to that.” ” In my opinion, the dedication to playing the way you need to win and the way we need to play to win wasn’t strong enough in the previous two games. Tomorrow, we must ensure that it is present.
After Gustavsson misplayed a clearing effort and Blake Coleman fired the puck on goal from a sharp angle, Backlund chipped in a rebound to give Calgary a 1-0 lead at 16:25.
“Tonight we were the second-most competitive team on the ice,” Hynes stated. “That’s not really who we are and who we’ve been, but we’ve got to make sure that’s going to be different tomorrow night.” At 5:31 of the second period, Sharangovich increased the lead to 2-0 with a tip of Martin Pospisil’s shot by Gustavsson’s blocker on a rush chance. At 7:23, Kadri made it 3-0 with a power-play goal on a wrist shot from the top of the right face-off circle.
At 15:39, Trenin scored to make it 4-1. He beat Wolf blocker side on a breakaway after forcing Adam Klapka into a turnover at the top of the Wild zone.
With 1:30 remaining and Fleury on the bench as the extra attacker for the 4-2 final, Nyquist scored on a blast from the slot past Wolf’s blocker.
According to Backlund, “It’s the same mindset,” “We must savor this moment now, but tomorrow is a fresh start. The following game must be won. However, with a significant victory tonight, we undoubtedly benefited ourselves and put pressure on the other two teams for tomorrow.”
