Kuzmenko Shines with Two Goals as Flames Edge Wild 5-4

Excitement filled the air in Minneapolis as Andrei Kuzmenko stole the show with two goals and an assist, propelling the Calgary Flames to a thrilling 5-4 win against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night.

The Flames' power play was on fire, with Kuzmenko and Rasmus Andersson each netting a crucial power-play goal. Martin Pospisil and Clark Bishop also made their mark on the scoreboard, contributing to Calgary's victory. Goalkeeper Dustin Wolf put on a solid performance with 21 saves, securing the win for the Flames.

Despite a late surge from Minnesota, including Mats Zuccarello's 12th goal just 27 seconds before the final buzzer, the Wild fell short in their comeback attempt.

Minnesota's efforts were not in vain, with goals from Joel Eriksson Ek, Marcus Foligno, and Frederick Gaudreau, supported by Marco Rossi's three assists. However, it was not enough to overcome the Flames. Goalkeeper Marc-Andre Fleury made 24 saves for the Wild.

The defeat marked the Wild's fifth loss in six games, highlighting a challenging period for the team.

Noteworthy was Fleury's milestone achievement, surpassing Patrick Roy for the second-most minutes played by an NHL goaltender, reaching an impressive 60,215 minutes. This historic moment occurred with just two minutes remaining in the second period.

Reflecting on the game, Wolf's performance was commendable, although not as stellar as in his previous matches. Nonetheless, his contributions were vital in securing the Flames' third consecutive victory.

On the other side, Minnesota faced ongoing struggles with their penalty kill, ranking as the third-worst in the NHL before Saturday's game. The Wild's vulnerability was evident, conceding seven power-play goals in their last six matches.

A pivotal moment in the game was Fleury's remarkable save on Pospisil during a 2-on-0 breakaway. While the save initially seemed like a game-changer for Minnesota, they couldn't capitalize on the momentum. Pospisil seized the opportunity, scoring at 12:28 in the second period, giving the Flames a crucial 2-1 lead.

Pospisil's goal marked his third of the season, with his last goal dating back to November 23, coincidentally against Minnesota as well.

Calgary showcased dominance in the faceoff circle, achieving a season-high 60.3% success rate in draws, underscoring their control of the game's tempo.