Game seven preview: Flames visit Winnipeg

This afternoon at 5PM MT, the Flames will close out their six game road trip (finally) with a visit to the MTS Center in Winnipeg against the Jets. It’s the first of three contests this season between the two, with a trip to Calgary on February 2nd and a return to "Chicago of the North" to close out the regular season on April 11th. The Flames started this trip out with a victory over the Edmonton Oilers, 5-2 last Thursday, a 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues last Saturday, wins against the Nashville Predators (3-2 in the shootout) and the Chicago Blackhawks (2-1 in overtime) before losing their last game, 3-2 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. After tonight’s matchup, they’ll open up a five game homestand with games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Washington Capitals, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Predators. Winnipeg won the season opener 6-2 over the Arizona Coyotes, and since have scored one goal in three games. They’ve lost to the San Jose Sharks , 3-0, the Los Angeles Kings, 4-1, and the Predators, 2-0. Tonight is the second game of a five-game homestand. They’ll go on to host the Hurricanes, the Lightning, and the Colorado Avalanche.

Calgary last played the Jets on April 11th last season. Winnipeg rode goals by Michael Frolik, Evander Kane, Carl Klingberg, Paul Postma, and Blake Wheeler to take a 5-3 victory. Jiri Hudler had a goal and an assist for Calgary, while Sean Monahan and Kris Russell added a marker each. Michael Hutchinson earned the win by turning aside 35-of-38 shots, and Karri Ramo allowed four goals on 26 shots for the loss. * Box Score * Full Recap

After the game, Mark Giordano spoke about the standing ovation from the home crowd in what was the Flames home finale:

Our fans have been great to us all year. We sort of knew they would do something like that, and it was pretty nice to stay out there to get that ovation, for sure.

Arctic Ice Hockey has more Jets for you.

After two straight wins, the Flames dropped a decision on Friday night to the Blue Jackets, 3-2. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 29-of-31 shot attempts, and Karri Ramo took the loss by allowing three markers on 26 attempts. For Columbus, Matt Calvert had a goal and an assist, Mark Letestu added two helpers, and Ryan Johansen and Jack Skille also lit the lamp. The Flames were led by a goal each from Mason Raymond and recently recalled Josh Jooris. * Box Score * Full Recap

Flames coach Bob Hartley spoke later about Calgary's effort in the third period, when the Flames scored both of their goals:

The tide changed in the third period. We were pressuring and they were coughing up the puck. It's too bad, because we put out quite an effort but couldn't get the tying goal.

Head on over to The Cannon for more talk of the Blue Jackets.

In Winnipeg's last game, Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne earned a 31-save, 2-0 shutout with goals from James Neal and Mike Ribiero. Jets' goalie Ondrej Pavelec made 25 saves in a losing effort. * Box Score * Full Recap

Jets coach Paul Maurice talked about getting shut out after the game:

There wasn't a lot of offense to be had. The simple answer is that we've got to put more of the basic stuff on net so that we can find a way bang some ugly ones in until the offensive guys get that good feeling around the net.

Read On the Forecheck for more on the Preds.

GameTime: 5PM MT

Where2Watch: CITY

All-Time Record: Calgary owns an 8-7-1 record against the Atlanta Thrashers / Winnipeg franchise.

Current Record

Calgary Flames: 3-3-0, six points, on pace for 82 points. Sixth in the Pacific Division, 10th in the Western Conference, 19th in the NHL. Last Five: W-L-W-W-L. Playoff odds: 46.1%

Winnipeg Jets: 1-3-0, two points, on pace for 41 points. Seventh in the Central Division, 13th in the Western Conference, 26th in the NHL. Last Five: X-W-L-L-L. Playoff odds: 33.3%

Common Thread

Devin Setoguchi played last season with the Jets, his third team. He scored 11 goals and 16 assists with a minus-7 rating and 22 penalty minutes in 75 appearances.

Ex-Flame winger TJ Galliardi is in his fourth game with Winnipeg, also his fourth team. Last season with Calgary, he scored four times with 13 helpers in 62 games, with a minus-13 rating and 21 penalty minutes.

Elsewhere

Calgary's matchup is one of four to be played in the NHL today. The Los Angeles Kings will host the Minnesota Wild at 1PM, the San Jose Sharks will visit the New York Rangers at 3PM, and the St. Louis Blues will play in Anaheim in a matchup against the Ducks at 6PM.

Probable Starting Lineups

Jooris, Glencross, and Hudler were held out of practice yesterday, two goons are winging Stajan, and Raphael Diaz stays in the lineup. Jonas Hiller is confirmed to start.

Calgary Flames

Line 1	Joe Colborne	Sean Monahan	Jiri Hudler
Line 2	Curtis Glencross	Matt Stajan	Devin Setoguchi
Line 3	Johnny Gaudreau	Mikael Backlund	Mason Raymond
Line 4	Brandon Bollig	Paul Byron	Lance Bouma
Defensive Pair 1	TJ Brodie	Mark Giordano
Defensive Pair 2	Kris Russell	Dennis Wideman
Defensive Pair 3	Ladislav Smid	Raphael Diaz
Starting Goalie	Jonas Hiller
Reserve Goalie	Karri Ramo

Winnipeg Jets

Line 1	Mathieu Perreault	Mark Scheifele	Blake Wheeler
Line 2	Andrew Ladd	Bryan Little	Dustin Byfuglien
Line 3	TJ Galliardi	Adam Lowry	Michael Frolik
Line 4	Anthony Peluso	Jim Slater	Chris Thorburn
Defensive Pair 1	Mark Stuart	Jacob Trouba
Defensive Pair 2	Zach Bogosian	Tobias Enstrom
Defensive Pair 3	Paul Postma	Adam Pardy
Starting Goalie	Ondrej Pavelec
Reserve Goalie	Michael Hutchinson

It's a great day for hockey! Let's go Flames!!!