Facing a Calgary Flames team that many project as Stanley Cup contenders, the Wild appeared out manned on paper. But games aren’t played on paper, they’re played on the ice. Minnesota proved that quickly, scoring the season’s first goal just 1:43 into the first period. On the play, Alex Henry took a shot from the point which was deflected over to Alexander Daigle in the corner. Having no angle for a shot, Daigle dumped the puck to the front of the net, hoping a teammate would be there to pick up the trash. Marc Chouinard was up to the task. As Mikko Kiprusoff slid away from the net, Chouinard pounded the puck in for a 1-0 Minnesota advantage. It was an even strength goal, an encouraging sign for a club expected to have scoring difficulties.

Minnesota added to the heartburn of Flames fans in the waning seconds of the period, as Brent Burns blasted a shot from the point that found its way to the back of the net with 1.5 seconds left in the period This goal came on the powerplay, and gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead. Pierre-Marc Bouchard assisted on the goal, as did newcomer Todd White.

Andre Zyuzin took a penalty early in the second period, allowing Calgary to mount a furious charge early in the second period. Minnesota held tight though, and answered with another power play goal at 6:29 of the period, increasing their lead to 3-0. Once again, the goal was assisted by Bouchard and White, indicating the Wild may have found a solid power play line.

Minnesota couldn’t hold the shutout though. With 2:47 left in the second period, Damond Langkow shot a puck of Brent Burns’ skate and into the net on the power play to pull Calgary back within two goals. Tony Amonte and Roman Hamrlik, Calgary’s big off-season acquisitions, assisted on the goal.

Late in the second and early in the third, it looked like Minnesota went into a “prevent” defense, often dumping the puck in and making quick line changes. After outshooting Calgary badly in the first, Calgary was putting on the pressure. Several dumb penalties didn’t help matters, as Minnesota found itself killing penalty after penalty, especially in the third period. The rest in the box paid off for Matt Foy and the Wild though. Just as Foy came out of the penalty box in the third, Dupuis threaded a pass into him. He passed over to Chouinard, who found the back of the net again, his second goal of the game. The team couldn’t revel in its restored three goal lead for long though. Less than a minute later, Andrei Zyuzin took an elbow in the chops from big Flames defenseman Rhett Warrener that left him crumpled on the ice. After a lengthy delay, he was helped off the ice, leaving Minnesota short a defenseman for the remainder of the game.

Shortly later, Calgary closed the lead back to two goals. Stephane Yelle found a loose puck near the right faceoff circle and blasted it past Roloson to close Minnesota’s lead to 4-2. Calgary kept the pressure on and quickly scored again, this time on a Jerome Iginla goal. In a matter of minutes the Wild’s three goal lead was down to one. After a solid scoring chance by the Wild with about 10 minutes to go in the third, Calgary came back down ice and drew an unpopular holding penalty on Wild defenseman Scott Ferguson. A chorus of boos rained down on the referees for the first 20 seconds of the Flames power play, but the Wild managed to kill it off and hold their lead with seven and a half minutes left to play.

Calgary continued to apply the heat, nearly tying the game several times in the third, but Minnesota finally iced the game when Todd White found himself open in front of the net with the puck and buried it to give the Wild a 5-3 lead. Marc Chouinard added an empty netter just before the clock ran ou to give him his first career hat trick, and to give Minnesota its first victory of the new season.

Chouinard's hat trick earned him #1 star honors for the game, while Todd White's goal and two assists netter him second star honors, and Pierre Marc Bouchard's three assists got him the third star of the game.

GAME NOTES:
Minnesota was 2-3 on the power play. Meanwhile, they only allowed one PP goal in 8 tries by Calgary.
Minnesota outshot Calgary 16-3 in the first period, but was outshot 11-7 and 17-5 in the remaining two periods.
Pascal Dupuis tied Marc Chouinard for the team lead in +/- with a +3.
Kyle Wanvig finished second to only Pierre Marc Bouchard in time on the power play.
Minnesota took nine penalties in the game, each to a different Wild skater.