Flames host Wild in Northwest showdown

Hockey Betting Lines

12/29/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The first-place Calgary Flames resume a five-game homestand tonight, as they receive a visit from the Minnesota Wild for a Northwest Division showdown at Pengrowth Saddledome.

Tonight's matchup will feature the best and worst of the division, as the Flames are tops in the standings with 44 points -- one more than Vancouver -- thanks to wins in four of their last five games. The Wild have lost eight of their last 10 and sit last with 36 points.

Calgary will play the fourth contest of its current homestand and has notched a point in each of the first three games. After an overtime loss to Chicago on December 19, the Flames have posted back-to-back wins over Anaheim and Ottawa.

In Saturday's test with the Senators, Rene Bourque notched his first career hat trick, scoring twice in a 58-second span in the second period to erase a two-goal deficit on the way to a 6-3 victory.

Bourque completed his hat trick with a late third-period goal and with 14 goals is just two shy of the career-high 16 he netted as a rookie with Chicago in 2005-06.

Todd Bertuzzi, Andre Roy and Adrian Aucoin also scored in the win. Bertuzzi added an assist and Daymond Langkow had a pair of helpers.

Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 27 shots to help Calgary improve to 11-4-3 at home this season. Kiprusoff made 25 saves in an overtime win over the Wild on December 17 in the Flames' last road game before this homestand, while Bertuzzi had the game-winner.

Kiprusoff is 20-6-2 with a tie, three shutouts and a 1.83 goals against average in 29 career starts versus the Wild.

Calgary's win over Minnesota came in the first of six meetings between the teams this year and was its sixth in the last seven matchups in the series. The Flames have also won four straight as the host versus the Wild.

The Wild have split their last four games, dropping Sunday's test versus Chicago by a 4-1 margin. Cal Clutterbuck netted the lone goal with assists from Stephane Veilleux and Martin Skoula.

The Wild played without Marian Gaborik, who sat out the contest to rest a groin injury that has limited him to just six games this season. He has three goals and two assists on the season and might also sit out tonight as he continues to recover from his ailment.

Niklas Backstrom allowed three goals on 31 shots to take the loss. He is 4-4-3 with a 2.12 GAA in 14 games versus the Flames.

The Wild have lost five straight on the road -- all in regulation -- and haven't won as the visiting team since November 29 in Nashville. Minnesota is 7-8-0 overall on the road this year.

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