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Wild look to end recent struggles

Nov 3, 2007 - 2:21 PM Calgary (6-4-3) at Minnesota (7-4-2) 8:00 pm EDT

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) - The Minnesota Wild look to avoid their longest losing streak in franchise history when they host the Calgary Flames on Saturday.

The Wild have lost five straight games - one in overtime - to tie the longest losing skid in the franchise's seven-year existence.

Minnesota started the season 7-0-1 but have struggled since then, losing most recently to St. Louis on Wednesday. The last time the Wild lost five in a row was from January 28 - February 8, 2002.

The Wild are still without starting goaltender Nicklas Backstrom, who has missed the last four games with a groin injury.

Brian Rolston leads the Wild with six goals and his 11 points ties him with Pierre-Marc Bouchard for the team lead.

The Flames are led by Jarome Iginla, who is second in the league with 20 points. His eight goals ties him with Daymond Langkow for the team lead.

Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff has started all 13 games and has a 3.05 goals-against average this season. The 31-year-old is 14-4-2 with one tie and a 1.69 GAA in his career against Minnesota.

Calgary, which just completed a season-high seven-game homestand at 4-2-1, defeated the Wild, 5-3, on October 24 and have won the last three meetings between the teams.