The Calgary Flames can salvage their recent home stand with a victory over the visiting Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. Here's a look into tonight's matchup.
The Calgary Flames (26-20-7) will look to break out of a rut on Thursday night with a big Western Conference showdown against the Colorado Avalanche (31-22-2) at the Saddledome.
Tonight is the first meeting between the two clubs. The Avalanche have won the last five games against the Flames, dating back to Calgary's last win on Oct. 13, 2022.
Calgary remains 5-5-0 in its last ten outings, recently losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday by a score of 6-3. Despite the latest setback, the Flames are 16-9-3 at the Saddledome this season.
Meanwhile, the Avalanche had a two-game win streak snapped by the Vancouver Canucks, 3-0. They are 4-5-1 in their last ten games and are in the middle of their Western Conference road trip.
Between the Pipes
Calgary starter: Dustin Wolf
- Season: 31 GP / 19-10-2 / 2.58 GAA / .914 SV%
- Career: 49 GP / 27-17-3 / 2.74 GAA / .908 SV%
- Last 5: 2-3-0 / 3.00 GAA / .886 SV%
- vs. Opponent: 0-0-0 / 0.00 GAA / 1.000 SV%
Colorado starter: Mackenzie Blackwood
- Season: 39 GP / 18-15-5 / 2.50 GAA / .917 SV%
- Career: 235 GP / 93-97-27 / 2.98 GAA / .906 SV%
- Last 5: 3-2-0 / 2.00 GAA / .927 SV%
- vs. Opponent: 1-3-1 / 4.39 GAA / .882 SV%
Conversation Starters
- The Flames were busy in the past two days shuffling the lineup by calling up Ilya Solovyov and Dryden Hunt. However, neither is in the lineup tonight, so has Ryan Huska put together a winning combination this evening?
- Team Canada has yet to replace Alex Pietrangelo for the 4 Nations Face-off, meaning Mackenzie Weegar still has a chance. He's on a three-game point streak. Will the streak continue against the Avalanche, who give up 3.04 GA/GP?
- Rasmus Andersson showed some passion on the bench on Tuesday night. Offensively, he's only scored two points, a goal and an assist, in the past 14 games. Can he help the Flames on the scoresheet and secure two valuable points?
Where Are They Now?
- Calgary (59 points)
- Colorado (64 Points)
Flames & Avalanche Leaders
- Goals: Jonathan Huberdeau (20) / Mikko Rantanen (25)*
- Assists: MacKenzie Weegar (23) / Nathan MacKinnon (60)
- Points: Jonathan Huberdeau (39) / Nathan MacKinnon (80)
- PIM: Brayden Pachal (76) / Miles Wood (37)
- PPG: Jonathan Huberdeau (6) / Cale Makar (9)
- SOG: Nazem Kadri (176) / Nathan MacKinnon (218)
*Rantanen was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Avalanche's active leader is Artturi Lehkonen, with 21.
Per the Flames staff at NHL.com, here's a breakdown of tonight's lineup. (Subject to change)
FORWARDS
Jonathan Huberdeau -- Nazem Kadri -- Joel Farabee
Yegor Sharangovich -- Morgan Frost -- Martin Pospisil
DEFENCE
Mackenzie Weegar -- Daniil Miromanov
Jake Bean -- Brayden Pachal
GOALIES
SCRATCHES
Dryden Hunt, Ilya Solovyov, Tyson Barrie
Tonight's game starts at 7:00 p.m. MT and is available on ALT, SNW, SN1, and Sportsnet+.
