Minnesota Wild Win Three In a Row, Beat Calgary 5-1
By Sarita Kelly
The Minnesota Wild’s 1,000th game, including the playoffs, didn’t look so good at the start of the game. They were outshot through 2-1/2 periods, but when they did come back they came back strong. They scored two goals 33 seconds apart in the third and had enough saves from Josh Harding to smoothly defeat Calgary 5-1 at the Xcel Energy Center Monday night.
Nov 5, 2013; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Justin Fontaine (14) attempts to intercept a pass during the third period against the Calgary Flames at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Flames 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
The Calgary Flames hit the first five shots of the game and scored on their fifth when Jiri Hudler beat Harding from the low slot after 5:24, but Minnesota tied it up at the 9:07 mark on a goal by Mikko Koivu.
The first line of the Wild is finally starting to live up to their hype. Zach Parise gave the Wild the lead with a power-play goal 6:28 into the second period and Justaine Fontaine and Zenon Konopka scored at 8:05 and 8:38 of the third period to make it 4-1 before Parise scored again after 13:14.
Minnesota came in having won five of their previous six and are leaving for a short road trip with a 7-1-2 home record. This win gives the Wild a winning streak of 3 and they are 2-3-1 on the road for 21 points in 16 games.
The Wild play the Capitals at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Watch them on FSN or listen at KOOL-FM 107.9