Wild endure another chilly time on home ice, lose to Flames, 5-4

Sarah McLellan, Star Tribune on Jan 25, 2025

Published in Hockey

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Wild lost again, which only fanned the double life that’s become their home and road records.

But after their last-ditch comeback was denied, 5-4, by the Flames on Saturday at Xcel Energy Center, there was a silver lining for the Wild: Their next five are away from St. Paul, beginning Sunday in Chicago.

Calgary snared control in a feisty and physical second period, with goals from Martin Pospisil and Rasmus Andersson breaking a 1-1 tie, before the Wild threatened by scoring twice in the final 1 minute, 14 seconds.

Goaltender Dustin Wolf, a potential Rookie of the Year contender, turned aside 20 shots to seal a winless homestand for the Wild.

And while they were much more engaged than they were in a listless 4-0 drubbing by Utah Hockey Club on Thursday, the Wild still couldn’t shake the funk that’s festering at home, where they’ve dropped four in a row and are 11-12-1. Overall, they have just one win in their past six games.

Unlike that rout from Utah, the Wild were much more responsive after falling behind.

The Flames capitalized on the power play 6:58 into the first period when Andrei Kuzmenko tipped in a Nazem Kadri feed. But by 9:34, both teams were back to square one when Mats Zuccarello set up Joel Eriksson Ek for a blistering shot between the faceoff circles that handcuffed Wolf.

Eriksson Ek’s goal was his first in eight games, and Kirill Kaprizov’s assist on the play was his first point in his second game back from a monthlong injury hiatus.

In the second period, tensions flared after Jakub Lauko boarded Kevin Bahl behind the Calgary net.

Lauko was penalized two minutes and fought the Flames’ Ryan Lomberg on his first shift back.

But amid the rough stuff, the Wild were also struggling to protect their own end.

After Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury thwarted Pospisil’s attempt off an odd-man break that started as a 2-on-0 for Calgary, the Flames kept the puck in Wild territory and Pospisil buried his do-over when he got on the end of a rebound at 12:28.

Calgary kept the pressure up and after Fleury gobbled up a close call, both teams started jostling in his crease. Fleury got involved, and Andersson punched Fleury, prolonging the melee; Andersson and Fleury were penalized for roughing.

But Andersson had the last laugh: While Eriksson Ek was in the penalty box for tripping, Andersson ripped a one-timer by Fleury at 19:52 to lift the Flames to a 3-1 advantage. They finished 2 for 3 on the power play, while the Wild went 1 for 2.

Their goal came after Calgary stretched its lead on a shot by Clark Bishop off the rush at 11:53 of the third period, with Frederick Gaudreau converting at 14:15.

But the two-goal difference didn’t last long; only 14 seconds later, Kuzmenko scored his second of the night on a wrap-around. Marcus Foligno reinstated it with 1:14 to go before Zuccarello called for a photo finish with 27 seconds left.

Fleury, who passed Patrick Roy for second all time in minutes played by a goaltender, totaled 24 saves.

Fortunately for the Wild, they get a chance to bounce back right away against the Blackhawks in a situation that suits them.

They’re the NHL’s best road team at 17-5-3, with coach John Hynes chalking up the discrepancy to the style of game the Wild plays.

“I feel like on the road at times our mindset is a little bit different,” he said, mentioning this split has been addressed with the team. “It’s not a tactical thing. It’s a mindset of coming in and making sure you’re getting to the game that gives us the best chance to win.”