Flames have six Saddledome clashes remaining before the all-star break
Flames have six Saddledome clashes remaining before the all-star break
A six-game homestand takes the Calgary Flames to the all-star week and extended break.
As the Flames (20-18-5, 45 points) head into Tuesday’s home clash with the Arizona Coyotes, they are right in the middle of the clubs battling for the Western Conference’s two wild-card spots and kicking off a trio of clashes over the week.
The Flames return to the Saddledome riding a three-game winning streak — which is equal to a season-high — and going for only their second four-game spree since the 2021-22 season.
With the trade deadline less than eight weeks away, the Flames are heading closer and closer to the moment for all of those key decisions regarding their pending unrestricted free agents and other tradeable assets.
What transpires over the six-pack of clashes will play a huge part in setting the course taken.
Here is a look at this week’s opponents arriving in the Stampede City.
Tuesday: Versus Arizona Coyotes (21-18-2, 44 points)
The Flames used a four-goal first period to convincingly beat the Coyotes 6-2 in Tempe, last Thursday, the first of three meetings this season.
To their credit, the Coyotes responded with a 6-0 shellacking of the free-falling Minnesota Wild on Saturday to kick off a three-game road swing.
The Coyotes have won two of three games, but are also on a 2-4-0 run that has allowed the Flames to vault over them in the standings.
That said, the Desert Dogs boast a better winning percentage than the Flames (.537 to Calgary’s .523).
Clayton Keller has ratcheted up his game of late, and has netted three goals and seven points in a four-game run.
The Flames have a 12-2-1 record in their last 15 meetings with the Coyotes, including a 7-0-0 mark at home.
Thursday: Versus Toronto Maple Leafs (21-12-8, 50 points)
After blown leads in three consecutive losses, the Maple Leafs are on the road this week.
Going further back, Toronto has only five wins in 13 games (5-6-2), which has seen the Maple Leafs go from battling for top spot in the Atlantic Division to now holding off the Tampa Bay Lightning in a fight to fall out of the division’s top three places.
Trips to Western Canada have been kind to them over the past handful of years. The Maple Leafs have won five of the last six meetings at the Saddledome and seven of the last nine overall against Calgary — two of them in extra time, including a 5-4 shootout affair in Toronto in mid-November.
Saturday: Versus Edmonton Oilers (23-15-1, 47 points)
The Oilers returned home after claiming a franchise record 10th consecutive victory by beating the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in overtime on Saturday. The win also marked their eighth consecutive road victory, which tied a franchise mark.
Edmonton will face at home the Maple Leafs and Seattle Kraken before heading to Calgary for the second chapter in this season’s Battle of Alberta.
While the Oilers have won 18 of their last 21 games, it is no surprise Connor McDavid has been leading the way. McDavid is currently riding a 10-game point streak in which he has collected five goals and 16 points.
The Oilers have claimed the last three clashes, including the 5-2 game in the Heritage Classic on Oct. 29.