Sinking Wild fall to Islanders as Flames lurk for final playoff spot

Ready to hit the panic button? The Minnesota Wild might not be in sweating that badly just yet, but Friday night's 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders was another lost opportunity to help themselves as the playoff race tightens and the regular season fades.  

The difference Friday was New York turning a 1-0 hole into a 2-1 lead thanks to two goals in the span of 104 seconds in the second period. 

The Islanders tied the game on Casey Cizikas's goal at 2:18 of the second period — just 36 seconds after Mats Zuccarello gave the Wild the lead — and Simon Holmstrom followed at 4:02 of the frame. 

The Wild couldn't get much going the rest of the night and a high-sticking penalty on Yakov Trenin led to an Islanders power play and a goal for a 3-1 lead early in the third. 

Minnesota has gone 1-4-2 in the last seven games, earning only four of a possible 14 points. All the while, the Calgary Flames have earned 13 of a possible 18 points over their last nine games, and the result is the Flames now trailing Minnesota for the last playoff spot by only five points — and Calgary has played two fewer games than the Wild. 

Up next for Minnesota is a Sunday date in St. Paul against the juggernaut Dallas Stars. The puck drops at 2:10 p.m. CT.