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 A playoff position, which looked so far away just a month ago, is
now within striking distance after Mikko Koivu's overtime winner was
the difference in the 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on
Wednesday night.
"Even that one extra point, it's huge, especially against a team
that we're chasing," said Koivu, the Wild captain and top center.
"Every point is very important and you need it all. We want to take
as many as we can and move forward."
The Western Conference playoff chase is claustrophobically tight,
but Minnesota (29-21-7) climbed to within a single point of a wild
card spot by winning nine of 11 games.
Catching the top three Central Division teams isn't likely possible
-- although it may be if Minnesota keeps playing like it has the
last while -- so a wild card spot is the more realistic goal.
After Wednesday's action, the Winnipeg Jets are in the driver's seat
for one of the two wild card spots, but with four Pacific Division
teams battling for second and third place in their division as well
as wild card tickets to the Stanley Cup tournament, it is amazingly
close.
 Minnesota is actually 10th in the conference, but just one point
behind the Los Angeles Kings, the current holders of the second wild
card spot.
Although the Wild left the Scotiabank Saddledome on a high, there
were some tense moments when they blew a 2-0 first-period lead.
Right winger Justin Fontaine and defenseman Matt Dumba -- playing in
his hometown for just the second time as a pro -- each beat Calgary
goalie Jonas Hiller in the opening frame to stake the visitors to a
lead.
However, the Flames (32-22-4) have become known for their comebacks
this season thanks to 10 victories garnered when trailing after two
periods, and almost pulled off another.
First, right winger Jiri Hudler put the hosts on the board late in
the opening frame when he deflected a high point shot -- a goal
which took a lengthy video review to stand up -- and then left
winger Lance Bouma tied the game midway through the third period for
a team which has outscored opponents 73-38 in the third period this
season.
"We were missing one of our defensemen," said Minnesota coach Mike
Yeo, noting the loss of Jared Spurgeon to injury just three minutes
into the game. "I actually liked our third period a lot better than
the second period. They got a lot of momentum with the power plays,
but our third period was pretty good in terms of not giving up a lot
of quality chances. We only gave up two, maybe three. Against a team
like that, you're going to give up a few.
"Obviously, they got that big goal but I thought our guys responded
well and it was a big two points."
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Meanwhile, the Flames ended up torn somewhere between disappointment
from yet another bad start -- they've surrendered the first goal in
11 of 13 games -- costing them and the happiness of getting a
much-needed point in the standings.
"We just didn't finish it off," said defenseman Dennis Wideman, who
assisted both Calgary goals. "We tied it up but couldn't get that
third one. We had plenty of chances. Even before they scored the
overtime goal, we had a couple of real good chances to finish it off
and (Devan) Dubnyk made some real good saves.
"But, obviously, we don't want to keep spotting teams one, two or
three goals, We have to find a way to come out a little bit better
and try to get a lead."
Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk made 35 saves for the win. Since coming to
Minnesota via trade from the Arizona Coyotes, he's posted a
sparkling 11-2-1 record.
Hiller stopped 26 shots.
NOTES: Flames LW Brandon Bollig drew back into the lineup after
being a healthy scratch the previous two games because LW Paul Byron
missed the game due to an injury suffered in Monday's clash with the
Boston Bruins. ... Minnesota summoned LW Michael Keranen from its
AHL affiliate in Iowa but he didn't suit up. Keranen, who is second
in scoring for the Wild's farm team, was brought up in case LW
Thomas Vanek couldn't play. Vanek was OK to play despite the
lower-body issue bothering him. ... The Flames went into the game
without surrendering an opposing team a power-play goal in nine
consecutive games, which tied a franchise record set in March 2004.
... The Wild have had a perfect penalty kill in the last 11 games,
while the Flames haven't surrendered a power-play goal in 10
outings, which is a franchise record.
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