Wild saves its best for last in keeping win streak alive

CALGARY --Facing the NHL's best third-period team, on the road, down its leading goal scorer and even on the scoreboard, the Wild managed to dig deep and find its best period of the night.
It was a period that has been emblematic of its past five games as a whole, boiled down into one 20-minute span.
Minnesota got offense from some unlikely sources and timely goaltending from Devan Dubnyk in a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday night.

The victory cooled the NHL's hottest team, extinguished Calgary's seven-game winning streak while at the same time, propelled the Wild to its fifth-straight win, which tied its season long.

"We dealt with a lot [on Saturday] but it feels like a year where we've dealt with a lot of adversity for our group," said Wild forward Eric Staal. "But I think, as a group, we've come together here the last little while and winning helps and makes a difference with that. You want to ride that positive feeling and those vibes as long as you can."
With the Wild's top offensive catalyst, Zach Parise, back at home, Minnesota was struggling to create much of anything in the way of momentum.

The Flames were outshooting the Wild 28-12 through 40 minutes, with Dubnyk's 27 saves keeping Minnesota afloat.
But the Pacific Division-leading Flames, who entered the night second in the NHL with 89 points, were 11-0-4 when tied after two periods this season. Their 93 goals were most in the League. Their plus-49 goal differential in the final 20 was far and away the best in the NHL.
None of that mattered.

Four minutes into the third, Joel Eriksson Ek worked the Wild's game plan to perfection, harassing Flames goaltender Mike Smith behind the goal enough for him to turn the puck over. Eriksson Ek chipped it out front, where Matt Read bounced it off a Flames defenseman and into the goal, giving the Wild a lead it wouldn't surrender.
"Usually, third periods, when we're tied, we're a pretty good team too," said Wild coach Bruce Boudreau. "We said, 'We can't stay back. We've gotta try and score and just be responsible without the puck,' and we were. I think we got a couple breaks there [too]."

Ryan Suter added what would become the winning goal, scoring off the rush with just under nine minutes to play.
Even after Calgary climbed back within a goal with plenty of time left, Ryan Donato extended his point streak to five games when he blew a slap shot through Smith with under two minutes remaining in regulation, restoring order.

All Donato knows with the Wild is winning; Minnesota is now 5-0 since acquiring the 22-year-old winger from the Boston Bruins 10 days ago.
"This whole experience, I keep on saying, it's been a blessing," Donato said. "I can't complain, I just hope we can continue it to the playoffs."
While the Wild has seemingly found a different way to win on a nightly basis during the streak, the common thread has been Dubnyk, who was magnificent in his hometown on Saturday night.

Dubnyk made 35 saves and has now allowed two goals or fewer in all five of the Wild's victories since Dec. 21. He's topped 30 saves in three of those games.
"You knew they were going to come with a pretty hard push at the beginning of the game here," Dubnyk said. "They're a good team and they play well here and I thought we did a good job of weathering and battling through the first period. I thought we got better as the game went on.
"We're finding ways to get it done right now."
Added Staal: "It felt like one of those games where we would get rewarded for staying with the game. That was a big two points for us."
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Postgame Hat Trick: Wild 4, Flames 2