Flames last strung five victories together in the 2021-22 campaign, while the Maple Leafs have blown leads in four consecutive setbacks
Flames (21-18-5, 47 points) versus Toronto Maple Leafs (21-13-8, 50 points)
The Calgary Flames are on the quest for their first five-game winning streak since the 2021-22 campaign.
They are also on a mission to move into a tie by points for a Western Conference wild-card spot.
Ever since their early season six-game losing skid, the Flames have desperately been clawing back. They’ve pulled close enough to see what they’re after.
“I wouldn’t say it’s an accomplishment. I’d say it’s a positive, right?” defenceman Chris Tanev said. “We’re closer to where we want to be, where we expect to be, after a tough start.
“We’ve put ourselves in the conversation now, and we’ve got to take the next step to accomplish our goal.”
Calgary expects Jonathan Huberdeau back in the lineup after missing last game due to illness, with Walker Duehr coming out and ticketed to play for the AHL Wranglers after clearing waivers.
Dan Vladar is slated to start in goal while Jacob Markstrom remains on the shelf due to a lower-body injury.
The Maple Leafs arrive on a 0-3-1 skid in which they have surrendered a lead in every game.
The Maple Leafs have won the past three meetings, including a 5-4 shootout clash in Toronto in November, and seven of the last nine clashes. As the road team, Toronto has won five of the last six games.
Here’s a look at Calgary’s expected lineup:
Forwards:
Jonathan Huberdeau-Elias Lindholm-Yegor Sharangovich
Andrew Mangiapane-Mikael Backlund-Blake Coleman
Connor Zary-Nazem Kadri-Martin Pospisil
A.J. Greer-Adam Ruzicka -Dillon Dube
Extra: Adam Klapka
Defence:
Rasmus Andersson-MacKenzie Weegar
Noah Hanifin-Chris Tanev
Jordan Oesterle-Nick DeSimone
Extra: Dennis Gilbert
Goal:
Dan Vladar
Dustin Wolf
Vladar has a 0-0-3 career record against Toronto with a 3.51 goals-against average and .897 save percentage. Wolf has never faced the Maple Leafs.
Here is the potential roster for the Maple Leafs:
Forwards:
Pontus Holmberg-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Matthew Knies-John Tavares-William Nylander
Tyler Bertuzzi-Max Domi-Calle Jarnkrok
Bobby McMann-David Kampf-Noah Gregor
Defence:
Morgan Rielly-T.J. Brodie
Simon Benoit-Jake McCabe
Mark Giordano-Timothy Liljegren
Goal:
Martin Jones
Ilya Samosonov
Jones boasts an 11-4-0 record, 2.48 GAA and .924 SvPct. against Calgary. Samsonov has a 1-0-0 mark with a 1.76 GAA and .927 SvPct. against the Flames.
ICE CHIPS: Flames F Blake Coleman has scored five-goals in a career-best four-game goal-scoring streak, and added three assists in his run … C Nazem Kadri is riding a seven-game point streak with five goals and five assists … Toronto’s blown-lead issues are deeper than just the past week. Of their last eight losses, the Maple Leafs had a lead in seven of those games and a multi-goal edge in five of them … Toronto C John Tavares has one goal during five-on-five play in 26 games … Leafs forward William Nylander has amassed eight goals and 24 points in 21 career games against Calgary, while C Auston Matthews has netted seven goals and 16 points in 21 clashes with the Flames … The Flames have scored a power-play goal in three consecutive outings, a season-high mark reached four times … Toronto has an 8-8 record in games that go to overtime or a shootout, and have only four regulation-time wins in the last 14 games, two against the last-place San Jose Sharks.