Skid Continues at Deadline

D'Arcy McGrath

March 18th, 2002

At least the Flames are quite adept at following the script.

With the NHL trade deadline set for less than 24 hours after a match up in Minnesota, the squad did little to confuse general manager, Craig Button's intentions by slipping further out of the Western Conference playoff picture.

As far as stage direction goes, the team was right on their marks the entire evening.

Out play and out shoot the opposition ... check.

Dominate five on five ... check.

Lose the game on special teams ... check again.

The loss was the third straight on the team's nine game road trip, and the third straight to teams without a prayer of making the playoffs.

All told the Flames trip concludes with a 2-5-2 record, good for 6 points in nine games; simply not enough. 

Like the season as a whole the Flames managed to secure five of their six points against teams ahead of them in the standings, but just one in four games against the league's weak sisters.

The first period featured a pitched shut out for both goaltenders and little in the way of offence, as the two teams combined for only 11 shots.

In the second period five goals were scored, two by the Flames while the teams were skating five aside, and three special team goals by the Wild giving them the lead after two.

The Flames opened the scoring when Dean McAmmond notched his third goal on the road trip and 16th of the season, moving him to within three of his career best set with Edmonton during the 1997-98 season.

The Wild tied things up using a shorthanded goal by Stacy Roest with just under eight minutes to play in the period.

The Flames went up again when Derek Morris managed his third of the season with assists to Craig Conroy and Marc Savard.

Then the flood gates opened with the Wild scoring two powerplay goals, both by Richard Park to take what turned out to be an insurmountable 3-2 lead.

The Wild scored three second period goals on only six shots, while the Flames fired 13 shots at former Flame Dwayne Roloson.

The Flames managed little in the way of strong offensive chances in the third, before the Wild salted things away with a late goal by Antti Laaksonen.

The loss leaves the Flames eight points behind Dallas in the ... ahem ... race for the final playoff spot.

Scoreboard
	Minnesota Wild	4
	Calgary Flames	2

Box Score

FLAMES LINES

OUR THREE STARS

1) Richard Park - Scored back to back second period powerplay goals to get his team the win. 

2) Marion Gaborik - Two point night with two assists for the super sophomore.

3) Denis Gauthier - Only plus player on the Flames.

HIT OF THE GAME

Steve Begin, who led the Flames with for hits on the night, caught Wild defenceman Nick Schultz fishing for the puck in the Wild zone and made him pay.

SAVE OF THE GAME

Dwayne Roloson made back to back saves early in the third period to preserve the win during a Flames powerplay. 

NOTES & STATS

The Flames returned home after the and will get ready to play nine of their final 12 games on Saddledome ice. ... Jarome Iginla was held off the scoreboard for the third time in his last four games. In those three games Iginla has fired 15 shots. ... The two teams were dead even in the face off circle with Clarke Wilm carrying the mail for Calgary. ... The Flames out hit the Wild by a 22-19 margin, led by Steve Begin with four, and many with two apiece. The Wild's Sylvain Blouin also had four hits on the night. ... The two teams spent an unbelievable portion of the game in the Wild zone. Just over 28 minutes of action compared to only 18 minutes in the Flames zone. ... Derek Morris led all skaters with 25:17 of ice time. ... Robyn Regehr blocked four shots to lead the Flames in that category.