Never an easy man to read — smiling when he's cross, straight-faced when he's cracking one-liners — Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire offered an interesting comment Thursday morning.
Asked about the desperation level of the night's opponents — given their precarious situation — Lemaire grinned and told everybody not to worry about the Calgary Flames.
"They will be in the playoffs — write it down."
So everyone did.
There you have it — Flames are in.
Jacques says so.
However, only a few minutes earlier, Lemaire had told reporters that the Wild's plan to slow down RW Jarome Iginla was to "steal his stick."
This, you'd almost believe.
One reporter, the other day, claimed it was more likely that Iginla would get his 60th tonight than stay stuck on 49.
Joking — but No. 12's domination in these parts is well-documented.
* All-time point leaders versus the Wild:
Iginla: 46 in 42 games
Tanguay: 36 in 41 games
Sakic: 36 in 40 games
* All-time goal leaders versus the Wild:
Iginla: 27 in 42
Naslund: 15 in 42
Sakic: 15 in 40
* All-time point leaders, visitors, at Xcel Energy Center:
Sakic: 19 in 22 games
Iginla: 18 in 21 games
Naslund: 18 in 21 games
* All-time goal leaders, visitors, at Xcel Energy Center:
Iginla: 12 in 21 games
Naslund: 11 in 21 games
Sakic: 10 in 22 games
* Iginla has collected two or more points in nine of 21 games at Xcel, including three or more in three of the last seven
* In 21 games at Xcel, Iginla is +13, with only three minus outings
* Since the Wildmen showed up in 2000-01, they are the Flames captain's favourite victims — 46 points (and 27 goals). Against Edmonton and Colorado, he has picked up 43 and 41 points, respectively. Phoenix, he has burned for 23 markers
