The Calgary Flames are set to write another chapter in one of the NHL’s lesser known rivalries. That being the ongoing dispute between them and the Minnesota Wild. Let’s go back to the game many believe kicked off the rivalry.

December 6, 2018
In the first period of an early December game during the 18-19 season, Giordano stuck out a leg and kneed Wild captain Mikko Koivu. Koivu was injured on the play. That alone is something Wild fans have not gotten over.

Dumba then gave Mikael Backlund a major concussion with a massive open ice hit with 54 seconds left in the 2-0 Flames victory. Ryan Lomberg left the bench, chased down Dumba immediately after the hit on Backlund and enacted vengeance in the form of an instigator penalty. That was all one game.

A hearing and a suspension for Lomberg. A fine given to Bill Peters that surely ownership had no issue covering.

Their next game, 12 days later, Tkachuk fights Dumba in the first 40 seconds of the game. Relatively quiet fight, Dumba injures his knee somehow while grappling. Later that match Ryan Suter fought Sam Bennett.

Given that the Flames spent the 20-21 season, Minnesota and Calgary only played each other one more time between December 8, 2018 and the following two games. The game in between was a rather quiet one, so we won’t get into it.

February 26 and March 1, 2022
The schedule had a two game series lined up for the teams. First a game in Calgary then one in Minnesota.

The first game got the rivalry back on track to say the least. 26 PIMs, a scrum after almost every play, Oliver Kylington player left with injury, five roughing minors, two instances where fighting majors probably should been assessed. The Flames took the game 5-1.

The next game had less scrums, but didn’t spare any physicality.

The Minnesota Wild averaged 22.3 hits per game 51 games into the 21-22 season. The Flames averaged 22.2. Both teams bumped the numbers on Tuesday night. The Wild recorded over double their average. 48 in total. The Flames recorded 34.

For the sake of brevity, we’ll skip the review of their most recent game. A 3-2 overtime win for the Wild. Andersson closed his hand on the puck in overtime and Kaprizov buried one on the power play. Neither team was willing to risk a high toll physical game given it was game 81 for both of them.

OK. Good to be caught up, but why is this relevant?


The Minnesota Wild Have a Big Addition
On November 25th, Rangers GM Chris Drury and Wild GM Bill Guerin made a trade. Headed to New York was a 2025 5th round pick. Headed to Minnesota?

Ryan Reaves.

76 fights in the NHL to his name, 6’2”, 225lb Ryan Reaves. Surely somewhat aware of his new team’s issues with Calgary. He hasn’t fought for his new team yet in five games. Although he does have three assists in that span.

With Milan Lucic not fighting this season yet and the health of one of his shoulders still being suspect — what happens tonight?

Tough to say, but there’s a good chance tonight’s matchup between the 12-10-3 Calgary Flames and the 13-9-2 Minnesota Wild is an entertaining one.


A Rolling Opposition
Minnesota has won four straight and has won six of their last seven. Since a 2-1 overtime victory on November 19, the Wild have the third best offence in the NHL (4.14 Goals/GP), the third best power play at 40% and the fifth best PK in the league at 84.2.

Given Calgary’s tendency to win or lose games on power play, Monday’s 3-2 win over Arizona underlining that point, the Flames better come in sharp on special teams.


Containing Kirill
Shutting down Kirill Kaprizov has proven difficult for opposing teams over 24 games this season. His 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points are obviously a concern. He’s had thirteen points over the Wild’s recent seven game heater.

He’s also been drawing a lot of penalties. He’s drawn 12 minors and taken six.


Flames Projected Lineup

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Toffoli
Dube-Kadri-Mangiapane
Ruzicka-Backlund-Coleman
Lucic-Ritchie-Lewis

Hanifin-Andersson
Weegar-Tanev
Zadorov-Stone

Vladar
Markstrom


Wild Projected Lineup
Courtesy of dailyfaceoff.com.

Kaprizov–Steel–Zuccarello
Greenway–Eriksson Ek–Foligno
Petan–Gaudreau–Boldy
Shaw—Dewar–Reaves

Middleton–Spurgeon
Goligoski–Dumba
Merrill–Addison

Fleury

The Calgary Flames play the Minnesota Wild three times this season. Tonight, March 4, and March 7.


Puck drop is at 6:10pm mst. Catch the broadcast on Sportsnet in Canada and BSN in the States.


Trevor Neufeld


@Trevor_Neufeld


Stats via naturalstattrick.com, hockeyfights.com and nhl.com.

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