Preview: Calgary Flames vs Dallas Stars 10/27/17 (11/82): Time To Get Back On Track

Calgary Flames vs Dallas Stars, 7 PM MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary AB

It hasn’t been pretty for the Flames as of late. The good guys have dropped 4 out of their last 6 games and seen what was a dominant PK unit fall towards the bottom of the league. While the special teams have been a major issue lately, scoring is the Flames biggest problem. For a team with it’s offensive fire power, Calgary isn’t putting the puck in the net. The Flames are 25th in the league in scoring (24 G) and they’ve only scored more than 4 goals twice in the 10 games they’ve played. While Johnny Gaudreau leads the team in points (11), he’s only found the back of the net once this season. And the Flames, normally known for their defence putting the puck in the net, only have 5 goals from the blue line.

Dallas comes to Calgary for game 2 of their 3 game run through the Pacific Division. The Stars have dropped 2 straight, but they had just come of an impressive 4 game winning streak. Dallas is top 5 in PP and PK this season, something that will surely give the Flames fits. The Stars are 2nd in the league in PP% having scored 6 PPGs in 26 chances with the extra man. On the other side the Stars are 3rd in PK%, having killed 30 of the 33 times they’ve been man down.

This game at home opens a stretch of 7 in a row for Calgary and they need to get this ship right before the season gets away from them. Despite all you’ve read about Dallas in the above paragraph this could be the game that sends the Flames in the right direction. If Calgary can get a look at Kari Lehtonen that could be HUGE in helping what ails the Flames: goal scoring. Lehtonen has lost all 4 games he has started and he’s given up 14 goals in his last 3 starts.

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 2 St. Louis Blues 5

Calgary last took to the ice on Wednesday night and dropped a 5-2 decision to the St. Louis Blues. Eddie Lack got the start for Calgary and while he wasn’t terrible, he wasn’t good enough either. The Flames once again struggled to put the puck in the net and penalty troubles cost the Flames twice in the game. Here’s our recap and the highlights from NHL.com.

Dallas Stars 4 Edmonton Oilers 5

Dallas rolled into Edmonton having lost to the Avalanche to open a 5 game road trip and lost 5-4 to the Oilers. Kari Lehtonen continued to struggle, while Jamie Benn scored twice, giving him 5 points in the first two games of the road trip. Defending Big D has the recap and NHL.com provides the highlights.

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Matthew Tkachuk (F). The 3M Line is heating up and Matthew Tkachuk is a major reason why. The 19 year old star has 8 points on the season and 3 of those have come in the Flames last 2 games. Tkachuk got helpers on both Mikael Backlund goals against St. Louis and scored a regulation goal and the shoot out winner against Nashville. In the only 3 games he’s played in against Dallas, Tkachuk has a goal and an assist.

Dallas Stars

Jamie Benn (F). Benn is on a little bit of a tear lately. He’s Dallas’ top point getter (11) and he’s had at least 1 point in 4 of the Stars last 5 games. Benn also is one of those players that always seems to ruffle the Flames feathers when these two teams meet. Benn has 3 goals in the last 5 games he’s seen the Flames.

by Mark Parkinson