In St Paul, Saturday afternoon, David Rittich made 34 saves to help the visiting Calgary Flames edge out the Minnesota Wild, 2-1.
Matthew Tkachuk picked up the game-winner with just under nine gone in the third period.
“That was a big win,” Tkachuk said. “That’s a pretty tough team over there, especially at home. We’ve played them two games this year and it’s been 2-1 and 2-0, so they don’t give up a ton and neither do we.
“You had to fight for your chances, and we just got the better of them there late in the third, but it was a pretty even game if you ask me.”
The Flames have won seven of their last eight and improved to 21-10-2.
Mark Giordano struck shorthanded for the Flames; the second straight game he managed that feat.
Jordan Greenway had the Wild’s only goal.
“I thought we played pretty well. It was a good hockey game. It was just who was going to get the better opportunity in the third period, and once they did, they played pretty well defensively,” Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau said after the game. “[David Rittich] made a great save on [Charlie Coyle], and in games like that, you’re probably not going to get an awful lot of chances each way, and that’s what happened.”
The Wild dropped to 17-13-2 with the loss.
[WATCH: All Flames vs. Wild highlights]
Devan Dubnyk made 24 saves in the loss.
“It [stinks]. I think these are games you want to win,” Dubnyk said. “They obviously feel a lot better when you do, especially the way guys worked and battled. You just see everybody sticking up for each other. Guys are working, getting more ice time than they’re used to. Everybody’s stepping up, so those obviously feel really good when you win. It [stinks] it didn’t go that way.”
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