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Wednesday, Nov. 8 8:00pm ET
Bure scores winner on power play | |||||
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ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The Calgary Flames and expansion Minnesota Wild couldn't help but develop a rivalry after playing three times in the last two weeks. "You feel like it's a playoff or something and you get to know each other. If somebody hits you, usually you don't see them for a month," said Calgary's Valeri Bure, who scored the lone goal Wednesday night after the Flames' 1-0 victory. The animosity was evident from the opening faceoff, with four major penalties being called in the first 10 minutes and 44 penalty minutes through two periods. The Wild, who won the first two games against Calgary, will face the Flames again in two weeks. "It's like college or something," Minnesota's Scott Pellerin said. "We play them every weekend. But they're a strong team and we've played some tough games already." While the forechecking was fierce and emotions were high, the plodding offenses managed only 41 shots -- with the Wild taking 22. Mike Vernon got his first shutout of the season. With 373 career victories, he moved past Andy Moog for sole possession of seventh place on the NHL win list. "I only had 20-some saves, but it's just as important for me to show I can do it, and also to give confidence to the team," Vernon said. Vernon, 2-8-0 this season, earned his first shutout since Feb. 16, when he beat the New York Rangers while playing for Florida. The 18-year veteran has 24 career shutouts. "It's really good to see. He's been through a lot the last few weeks," Flames coach Don Hay said, referring to Vernon's 3.79 goals-against average -- and single victory before Wednesday night. "It was what we needed." Bure scored a power-play goal at 1:59 of the second period. Marc Savard and Cory Stillman assisted on the goal. The Wild, who lost 2-0 to Colorado on Tuesday night, have been shut out three times in their last four games and five times in 16 games this season. "Not scoring any goals the last two games is definitely frustrating," Pellerin said. "Maybe we're trying to get the perfect play instead of just trying to get it on net. Maybe we have to get back to the basics instead of being too pretty out there." Manny Fernandez made 18 saves for the Wild. Minnesota's Jeff Nielsen took the hardest hit of the night. He sustained a mild concussion and a bruised left shoulder when he was checked into the boards by Steve Smith in the first period. Nielson tried to get up after he crumpled to the ice, but fell and was helped off by a trainer. Smith also sustained what Flames officials said was a probable concussion when he was hit by Pellerin with about five minutes left in the third period. Smith skated two more shifts before leaving the game and was scheduled to be evaluated on Thursday. Game notesThe Wild have sold out all eight home games and there are a combined 1,900 tickets left for the team's next five home games. ... The Wild's effort to build an amphitheater in suburban Burnsville got a boost on election night when that city's mayor was re-elected over an anti-amphitheater candidate. The $10 million amphitheater would be a way for the team to generate revenue in the offseason. ... Vernon was taken in the expansion draft by Minnesota from Florida but traded the same day to Calgary for Dan Cavanaugh and an eighth-round pick in 2001. ... Wild defenseman Curtis Leschyshyn missed his third straight game because of a strained groin. | ALSO SEE NHL Scoreboard Calgary Clubhouse Minnesota Clubhouse RECAPS Pittsburgh 5 Philadelphia 2
Calgary 1
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