Preview: Wild vs. Flames

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- With a game against the Calgary Flames tonight, the Minnesota Wild returns home after last playing at Xcel Energy Center 11 days ago.

Info for Tonight's Game:

• When: Thursday, December 14 at 7:00 p.. CT
• Where: Xcel Energy Center (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
• Watch: Bally Sports North
• Listen: KFAN 100.3 FM

Wild Record: 10-12-4, 24 points, 7th in Central Division

Flames Record: 11-14-4, 26 points, 5th in Pacific Division

Last Time Out

The Minnesota Wild shutout the Seattle Kraken, 3-0, on Sunday night (12/10) at Climate Pledge Arena. Forwards Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi and Joel Eriksson Ek all scored in the win. G Filip Gustavsson saved all 24 shots faced to earn his second shutout of the season. 

The Calgary Flames lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in OT, 5-4, on Tuesday (12/12). Flames F Yegor Sharangovich scored twice, F Nazem Kadri recorded two points (1-1=2) and D Mackenzie Weegar scored the game's opening goal. G Dustin Wolf saved 34-of-39 shots faced and posted a .872 SV%.

What Happened Last Time?

The Wild defeated the Flames, 5-2, at Scotiabank Saddledome last Wednesday (12/6). Boldy recorded his first three-point night of the season (2-1=3), F Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and an assist and Eriksson Ek scored. F Mats Zuccarello became the first Norwegian-born NHL player to reach 600 career points with an assist. Gustavsson saved 28-of-30 shots for a .933 SV%. 

F Mikael Backlund and F Connor Zary each scored for the Flames. G Dan Vladar stopped 13-of-16 shots before being pulled in the second period. Wolf saved 11-of-13 shots faced.

Players to Watch

• Rossi is second in goals and T-2 in the NHL for points by a rookie (9-7=16) 
• F Pat Maroon sits at 299 career points 
• Eriksson Ek leads Minnesota with 14 goals and six PPGs this season
• Zuccarello leads the Wild in scoring with 28 points (6-22=28)
• Sharangovich ranks first on the Flames in goals and T-5 in points (9-7=16)
• Kadri leads Calgary with 22 points 
• D Noah Hanifin sits at 199 career assists 
• F Adam Ruzicka is at 99 career games played

Recent Transactions

The Wild recalled D Daemon Hunt, F Vinni Lettieri and D Dakota Mermis from Iowa and placed D Jonas Brodin on Long-Term Injured Reserve on Wednesday (12/13)

Fast Facts 

• Minnesota is 12-9-4 in its last 25 games against Calgary, beginning in the 2015-16 season
• The Wild owns points in 17 of its last 25 games in Saint Paul (13-8-4 since the 2009-10 season)

For more information on tonight's matchup, check out the game notes below.