Both the Flames and Sabres have dropped their last two outings and needing a Hail Mary to reach the playoffs
Calgary Flames (33-31-5, 71 points) versus Buffalo Sabres (33-33-5, 71 points)
It’s a quick trip home for the Flames to play a rare Sunday night clash against a Sabres club in a similar boat. Calgary, coming off a 4-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night — a game they just as deservedly could have won — is 12 points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for the Western Conference’s second wild-card position with 13 games remaining. According to moneypuck.com, that has the Flames with a 0.3% chance of reaching the second season.
Official elimination will likely happen within the next two weeks, but expect to eventually see more action for the club’s up-and-comers when they play out the string. Prior to Sunday’s action around the league, the Flames are 22nd overall, ahead of the Sabres based on having played fewer games, with a few other teams around them lacing up, such as the New Jersey Devils (at the New York Islanders), the Pittsburgh Penguins (at Colorado) and the Seattle Kraken (hosting Montreal).
The Sabres hit Calgary also riding a two-game losing skid, and having dropped three of four outings heading into the conclusion of a five-game road trip. Buffalo is seven points back of the Detroit Red Wings for the East’s final wild-card spot with 11 clashes remaining.
The Flames won the first meeting of the season, a 4-3 game in Buffalo way back on Oct. 19. Calgary boasts a 7-1-3 mark in the last 11 clashes.
With the Flames holding no morning skate, the lineup is something of a guessing game, but here’s a look at last night’s crew:
Calgary
Forwards:
Jonathan Huberdeau-Yegor Sharangovich-Andrei Kuzmenko
Connor Zary-Nazem Kadri-Martin Pospisil
Andrew Mangiapane-Mikael Backlund-Blake Coleman"
A.J. Greer-Kevin Rooney-Dryden Hunt
Extras: Walker Duehr, Matt Coronato
Defence:
Oliver Kylington-Rasmus Andersson
MacKenzie Weegar-Daniil Miromanov
Joel Hanley-Brayden Pachal
Extras: Dennis Gilbert, Nikita Okhotiuk
Goal:
Dustin Wolf
Jacob Markstrom
Wolf has never faced the Sabres. Markstrom has a 7-2-2 career mark against Buffalo with one shutout, a 2.26 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.
Buffalo
Forwards:
J.J. Peterka-Tage Thompson-Alex Tuch
Jordan Greenway-Dylan Cozens-Zach Benson
Jeff Skinner-Peyton Krebs-Zemgus Girgensons
Lukas Rousek-Tyson Jost-Victor Olofsson
Defence:
Rasmus Dahlin-Bowen Byram
Owen Power-Henri Jokiharju
Jacob Bryson-Connor Clifton
Goal:
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Devon Levi
Luukonen surrendered seven goals (on 40 shots) in a 7-2 Calgary victory over the Sabres last season, his lone outing versus the Flames. Levi was in net during Calgary’s victory earlier this season.
ICE CHIPS: It has been a disappointing campaign for the Sabres and their breakout forwards last season: Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch. However, Thompson arrives in Calgary having netted two goals and five points in a four-game streak, while Tuch has posted one goal and six points in a four-game run … The Sabres have really struggled in first periods: outscored by an 82-56 count. As much as the Flames have been guilty of falling behind early, they’ve only been outscored 69-62 in first periods … Calgary’s issue is the second period, with a 65-80 deficit … This clash features Calgary’s 30th-ranked power play at 14.5% (and last at home at 12.3%) against the Sabres and their 27th-ranked PP (16.3%). The Flames have the fifth best penalty kill (83.2%) while the Sabres are 19th (78.9%).
