Wild blank Flames

Published 4:11 am Friday, January 30, 2015

CALGARY, Alberta — Zach Parise scored in the first period and Devan Dubnyk stopped 30 shots, leading the Minnesota Wild to a big 1-0 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.

It was Parise’s sixth goal in his last six games and No. 20 on the season. Thomas Vanek assisted on the only score 8:59 into the game.

Minnesota (22-20-6) moved within five points of the Flames and the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Wild have picked up five of six possible points so far on a four-game trip that wraps up Sunday in Vancouver.

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Calgary (26-20-3) dropped to 1-1 on a six-game homestand, which continues Saturday against Edmonton.

It was Dubnyk’s third shutout of the season and No. 11 for his career.

He stepped up in the third when the Flames generated several dangerous chances.

Six minutes into the period, Johnny Gaudreau got around Jared Spurgeon and fired a wrist shot that was headed for the top corner before Dubnyk got it with his glove. With six minutes left, Dubnyk stopped Paul Byron on a breakaway.

Then, as the final couple seconds ticked off the clock, he robbed Mikael Backlund in a scramble at the side of the net.

Calgary was shut out for the first time this season.

Goaltender Jonas Hiller kept the Flames in the game by robbing Jason Pominville twice on set-ups from Mikko Koivu, the latter chance coming early in the third.

Hiller finished with 31 stops.

NOTES: Just called up from Iowa of the AHL, Minnesota D Matt Dumba played in his hometown for the first time in his NHL career. His parents and brother were in attendance. Dumba took the spot of Christian Folin, who along with Erik Haula were healthy scratches. … Byron has gone 28 games without a goal while LW Brandon Bollig has no goals on the season in 41 games.