Preview: Calgary Flames @ NY Rangers 10/21/18 (8/82): Time To Stop A Losing Streak At MSG

Calgary Flames @ NY Rangers, 5 PM MT, Madison Square Garden, New York NY

NHL Standings

Calgary Flames 4-3-0 (8 points) – NY Rangers 2-4-1 (5 points)

Calgary’s odd scheduling to start the season continues Sunday night with a trip to MSG to take on the struggling NY Rangers. This is the first game of a 2 game road trip for the Flames before they head home for two games at the Saddledome.

The Flames, despite a 24-33-5 record in NY against the Rangers, should be thrilled to visit the Big Apple. Calgary has had to run through a who’s who in the NHL over the last 5 games and the last place team in the Metropolitan should be a welcome reprieve.

NY hasn’t exactly had an easy start to the season and they’ve had a penchant for playing beyond regulation. Three of their 7 games have gone to OT with the Rangers coming out on top twice. Offence has been an issue for NY’s Original 6 team. They’ve only scored more than 3 goals once, an 8-5 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes back on Oct. 7.

What seems even more ludicrous about the Flames looking forward to going to New York City is the fact that Calgary has dropped 8 out of their last 10 to the Rangers in the their barn, including 5 in a row, dating back to 2014. Still, the Flames won’t be lining up across from Colorado, Nashville, St. Louis or Boston, so there’s that to look forward to.

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

NY Rangers Coverage: Blue Shirt Banter

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 3 Nashville Predators 5 (recap)

NY Rangers 3 Washington Capitals 4 OT (recap)

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames: Sam Bennett (C)

We’re going right back to Sam Bennett seeing it seems to be working, Bennett collected his second goal of the season in Calgary’s 5-3 loss to the Predators Friday night. He’s strung 4 straight games together where he’s shown signs of improvement and there’s hope that the player the Flames selected 4th overall in 2014 might actually be turning the corner.

NY Rangers: Chris Kreider (F)

The Boxford Massachusetts native leads the Rangers in 3 categories: goal (4), points (6) and PIM (6). That’s a well rounded player! Kreider has goals in his last 2 games, including a 2 point effort in the Rangers 4-3 OT loss to the Washington Capitals.

by Mark Parkinson