Devan Dubnyk stopped all 10 shots he faced in the first period before leaving the game with a lower-body injury. Alex Stalock then made 17 saves in a relief appearance before stopping four of five shots he faced in the shootout to pick up the win.
The Flames were flying right from the start of the game as they built up a 7-0 advantage in shots over the Wild by the 10-minute mark of the first period.
Video: CGY@MIN: Ferland buries a scorching one-timer
"I thought that was one of our best starts of the year," Ferland said. "That was one of our main focuses was to come out and go right after them. I though we deserved more for sure."
Dubnyk played well to keep the game scoreless by stopping an early slap shot from the slot by Sean Monahan before also making a pad save to deny a point-blank chance by Matthew Tkachuk, who was set up nicely in front by Mikael Backlund.
Mikko Koivu finally recorded the first shot of the game for Minnesota at 10:20 of the first and the Wild then went seven more minutes before Smith was forced to stop a point shot fired his way by Ryan Suter.
Unfortunately for the Flames, Cullen picked up the rebound in the slot before backhanding a shot past Smith to put the Wild up 1-0.
The Wild had an early power-play chance in the second and Smith had to be sharp to make a pad save to stop a shot by Koivu, who was also denied a short time later when he redirected a point shot by Gustav Olofsson on net.
Ferland tied things up at 1-1 with 1:03 to play in the middle frame when he took a pass from Gaudreau and blasted a point shot that deflected off Wild defenceman Jonas Brodin and in behind Stalock.
Ferland almost put the Flames up 2-1 early in the third, but instead rang a shot off the crossbar after he was set up again by Gaudreau with a nice cross-ice pass.
"It was a great play by Johnny," Ferland said. "It was one of those bounces you wish would go in. I couldn't have been more wide open. Johnny made a great play. I should have put that in."
The Flames outshot the Wild 7-4 in the third, while the Wild had a 3-1 advantage in the extra session.
"From start to finish, I thought we were pretty solid all the way through," summed up Smith. "I think we came out the first 10 minutes and kind of dictated the pace of play. They're a tough team in this building. They don't give you much."
ONE-TIMERS
The Flames have a 2-0-2 record in their past four games. … Jaromir Jagrmissed his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury … TJ Brodie is three assists away from 200 in his career … Stalock made 35 saves to backstop the Wild to a 4-2 win over the Flames the last time the two teams met at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Oct. 21. Suter had a goal and two assists for the Wild, while Brodie had two helpers for the Flames. … The Flames now have a 7-9-2 record when their opponent scores first and a 4-4-3 mark when tied after two periods of play.
NEXT UP
The Flames return home to host the San Jose Sharks at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday night (7 p.m., TV: Sportsnet Flames, Radio: Sportsnet960 The FAN). Come down early from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for Hockey Happy Hour and enjoy food, drink and merchandise specials. You can get a 14 oz. domestic draught, 1 oz. highball, 6 oz. house wine, a cheeseburger or a pizza slice for just $5 each. As well, take an additional 10% of all regular-priced Fanattic merchandise.
