Gm # 49: Wild @ Flames (5/8)

When you hold Jarome Iginla off the scoresheet entirely, and only allow goals from Stephane Yelle and Craig Conroy, IN Calgary, you should win. Unless, of course, you're the Minnesota Wild who can't buy a break - much less a win - in Calgary to save their lives. Sometimes they shoot themselves in the foot - as in their first game there this season. Sometimes, though, they play a pretty good road game and have one incredible piece of bad luck conspire against them.

That was pretty much the story last night. Steady Nick Schultz make one bad clearing attempt and oft-belittled (by Flames fans) Craig Conroy puts it in the back of the net for the go-ahead goal. Then Brent Burns rips a laser past Kiprusoff that catches the near post, trundles across the goal line to the far post, bangs off that and trundles the entire distance back to the near post and squirts harmlessly back into the crease. Unbelievable.

Harding played a strong game, allowing no really weak goals, and turning aside 35 shots with excellent rebound control (something Backstrom still has room to improve on).

But he was outshone by Kipper who made a good half-dozen huge saves among his total of 23.

This was the Wild's second loss (in 10 games) on the back end of a B2B this season - which is both remarkable and probably means they were due.

Season series
Overall: Wild trail 1-3-1 (GF 12, GA 14)
In Minny: Wild lead 1-0-1 (GF 6, GA 4)
In Calgary: Wild trail 0-3-0 (GF 6, GA 10)

CHICKEN LITTLE SAYS: Bad luck nothing, who's the gamebreaker?

POLLYANNA SAYS: Iggy's bagel a fair consolation prize.

BOTTOM LINE: Tough loss after the high of the Vancouver game.

STUD: Harding stood tall and offers a striking contrast to Backstrom when he's "on".

DUD: Foster was on the ice for both Flames goals.

NiNY