The Calgary Flames hoped to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the Western Conference’s wild-card hopefuls tonight at Scotiabank Saddledome. At the end of a rather spirited goaltending duel, though, the pack may have gotten a break and caught up to them a bit.

Off a Zach Parise goal – hardly the best chance either team got on the night – which stood up as the only goal either team would score, the Flames dropped a 1-0 decision to the Minnesota Wild. It’s their 20th loss of the season in their 49th game.

Here’s how it happened.

Minnesota had a good first period. So did Jonas Hiller, for the most part. The rest of the Flames did not. The Wild out-shot your local hockey heroes by a 14-8 margin and the Flames just couldn’t win a draw to save their lives.

Second period shots were 10-4 for Calgary and the Flames began to get going a bit, but Dubnyk was sharp. The third period was similar, except the Wild seemed wise to Calgary’s “comeback” game and did their best to clog up lanes and keep things to the outside. Shots were 8-8 in the final frame and Dubnyk was sharp once more. The Flames got gradually better throughout the game – similar to the Buffalo game – but unlike the Buffalo game, they were playing a competent hockey club that made adjustments in the final period to keep things from slipping away.

It’s hard to get too bent out of shape about this game, though. It’s the kind of game that the Flames would’ve found a way to squeak out a goal late to tie it earlier this season. I was reminded of a great quote from Bull Durham: “Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes it rains.”

After winning so many of these tight, painful games throughout the season, it’s important to remember: sometimes you lose. The Flames lost tonight.

They had a bad first period. They didn’t really get great chances until late in the second period. Oh, and they just couldn’t beat Devan Dubnyk. It’s hard to do much in a game if you can’t get any rubber past the other team’s netminder.

But, to be fair, the Flames got shut out for the first time in just about a year. That’s a pretty good stretch for a team that was expected to not have much firepower this season.

The man in sweet Koho gear, Jonas Hiller, kept the Flames in it. The game could’ve been must worse for the locals without him in net.

The Flames didn’t get much help tonight. The Jets lost to the Flyers, which is good. However, both San Jose (over Anaheim) and Dallas (over Ottawa) won, so the standings have tightened a bit around Calgary.

The Flames began their season series with the Wild with a loss. They’re now 26-20-3 and have 55 points. They’re back at it on Saturday night in another edition of the Battle of Alberta – and a must-win game for this group if there ever was one – when they host the Edmonton Oilers.