The short-handed Wild made an incredible rally from a two-goal deficit in the last four minutes of the third period to force overtime, but ultimately, they came up just short in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames Saturday in Calgary, Alberta.
The Wild, who were without Kirill Kaprizov and Marat Khusnutdinov due to injuries, trailed 3-1 with just four minutes remaining in the game. But Brock Faber scored a power-play goal with 3 minutes, 59 seconds remaining to get them within a goal.
Marco Rossi delivered the equalizer with just 34 seconds remaining to force overtime.
After a scoreless overtime session, it went to the shootout. Freddy Gaudreau got a wrister past Dan Vladar, but Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, Marco Rossi and Ryan Hartman all came up empty for the Wild (13-3-4). Justin Kirkland and Rasmus Andersson were able to convert for the Flames (12-6-3) to lift them to the win.
Vladar stopped 20-of-23 shots for Calgary.
Kevin Rooney struck first for the Flames with his goal 15 minutes into the first period, but Marcus Johansson tied it up just 1 minute, 3 seconds later off a feed from Boldy.
Martin Pospisil scored with just 31 seconds remaining in the second period — the lone goal of the frame — to give the Flames the lead, and Yegor Sharangovich made it a two-goal advantage 3 minutes, 53 seconds into the third period.
Filip Gustavsson had 28 saves on 31 shots.
The Wild return to action Monday night when they host the rival and red-hot Winnipeg Jets at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
