Preview: Calgary Flames vs Minnesota Wild 3/2/2019 (65/82): Find Me in the Dome, Chillin’ with Jarome

Calgary Flames vs Minnesota Wild, 8 PM MT

Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary

TV: CBC, SN, SN1 Radio: SN960

Calgary Flames (41-16-7, 89 Points) vs Minnesota Wild (31-27-6, 68 Points)

The Calgary Flames begin a brief two game homestand in what will be the biggest night in quite some time for the Calgary Flames franchise. The Minnesota Wild will be paying their second visit of the season to Calgary as the Flames look to rattle off their eighth straight win while the Wild look to remain in the final Wild Card spot in the West. This could very possibly be a playoff preview.

However that’s not the main story of tonight’s game as Calgary Flames legend and surefire NHL Hall-of-Famer Jarome Iginla will have his #12 raised to the rafters of the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight. The ceremony begins at 6:30 MT and will be broadcast on television so make sure to catch it! It is very fitting that the Flames are playing a franchise that Iginla put up some of his best numbers against, scoring 39 goals and 33 assists in 84 games. He also scored his 500th career goal against the Wild.

Now getting to the game itself tonight, it promises to be a very chippy affair after the first two games of the season featured star players on both sides getting injured. First it was Matt Dumba laying out Mikael Backlund late in a game, which resulted in a concusion for Backlund. In the next meeting, Matthew Tkachuk and Dumba fought as payback, and Dumba has been out since.

Calgary has won both of the previous two meetings this season in very low scoring games. The first meeting was a 2-0 win in Calgary courtesy of a 31 save shutout from Mike Smith along with two goals from Elias Lindholm. The second meeting was a 2-1 Flames victory thanks to a third period goal from Matthew Tkachuk and 34 saves from David Rittich.

The Flames have dominated lately in the head-to-head matchups, winning three straight and going 7-1-1 in the last nine. Calgary however has been fairly average at home against Minnesota, going 5-4-1 in their last ten games at the Dome.

As already stated, the Flames enter tonight’s game with seven victories in a row, while Minnesota has their own streak going with four straight wins. One of those will end tonight.

Starting Goaltenders

Flames: Mike Smith (E): 19-11-2, 2.89 GAA, .897 SV%

Wild: Devan Dubnyk (E): 25-21-5, 2.59 GAA, .912 SV%

Team Leaders

Flames: Goals - Gaudreau (30), Points - Gaudreau (80), PIM - Bennett (83)

Wild: Goals - Parise (24), Points - Parise (54), PIM - Seeler (49)

Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?

Hot

• Mikael Backlund with 8 Points in 7 Games
• Mike Smith with 5 straight Wins
• Ryan Donato has 6 Points in 4 Games since being acquired from BOS
• Eric Staal also has 6 Points in 4 Games

Not

• Sean Monahan hasn’t scored in 8 games
• Ryan Suter has only two assists in the last 7 games

What’s up with the Opposition?

Minnesota Wild Coverage: Hockey Wilderness

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 2 - New Jersey Devils 1

Minnesota Wild 3 - Winnipeg Jets 2

Players to Watch

Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images

Mark Giordano (D): On a night where there’s a lot of distractions, look for the Flames veteran captain to stay focused and bring a solid performance.

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Donato (F): The newcomer has blended in very well with the Wild and will be very dangerous tonight.