M&G GameTime Preview: Flames Visit Buffalo

Tonight at 5PM, the Calgary Flames converge on the Sabres in the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY. This will be first of two games this season between the two, with the second happening back in Calgary on January 27th.

The Flames will be in the second game of a four-game road trip. They lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Tuesday night and will play the Pittsburgh Penguins tomorrow night and the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.

The Sabres are playing in the second game of a four-game homestand. They defeated the Los Angeles Kings, 1-0 on Tuesday and will host the Florida Panthers on Saturday and the Ottawa Senators on Monday.

March 18th was the last time Calgary played Buffalo. Drew Stafford (14) scored for the Sabres in the first, Joe Colborne (8) scored the equalizer in the second for the Flames. The third period would see Mike Cammalleri (20) score the go-ahead marker and Paul Byron (SH, 5) add some insurance. Chris Butler had two assists for Calgary as the Flames took a 3-1 victory. Joni Ortio stopped 13 shots for the win, and Nathan Lieuwen allowed all three markers on 26 shot attempts for the loss. * Full Recap * Box Score

I thought a few weeks ago he was shooting as well as he is now, but it just seemed the puck would find a pad or find a post or miss the net. Right now, [Cammalleri]'s on fire. It's not a surprise to us. He's very talented. He's Johnny-on-the-spot. He has that knack to find that open space around the net. - Flames coach Bob Hartley

Die By The Blade has your Sabres.

In Calgary's last game, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Flames, 4-1. Peter Holland (7) and James van Riemsdyk (PP, 11) scored for the Leafs, followed by a Markus Granlund marker in the third (PP, 4). The Leafs added a couple of empty net goals in the last minute of regulation to seal it, by Phil Kessel (14) and Mike Santorelli (5). Jonathan Bernier made 32 saves in 33 tries, and Jonas Hiller earned his fifth loss in five career games against the Leafs, making 25-of-27 saves. * Box Score * Full Recap

We could have won this game. We're in every game. The Maple Leafs have great speed and great transition. The chances were there for us, but Bernier played a heck of a game and we couldn't get that second one by him. - Stajan

Go to Pension Plan Puppets for more on Toronto.

The Sabres dealt the Los Angeles Kings a 1-0 loss on Monday night. Tyler Ennis scored the only marker of the game four minutes into the final period on the power play. Jonathan Quick made 15 stops for the loss, while Jhonas Enroth really earned his win, facing down 34 Kings shots. * Full Recap * Box Score

This was actually one of my easier games. Everything was pretty controlled and I put myself in a good position and was pretty sharp all the way through. - Enroth

You live by the blade, and you Die By the Blade.

GameTime: 5PM MT

Where2Watch: SNF, MSG-B, Bell TV

All-Time Record: Calgary is 35-45-19 against the Sabres through history. This will mark the 100th meeting between the teams. The Sabres are the 16th franchise against whom the Flames have reached that mark.

Current Record

Calgary Flames: 17-10-2, 36 points, .621, on pace for 102 points. Third in the Pacific Division, sixth in the Western Conference, 11th in the NHL. Last Five: W-W-W-L-L. Playoff Odds: 81.6%

Buffalo Sabres: 10-16-2, 22 points, .393, on pace for 64 points. Eighth in the Atlantic Division, 15th in the Eastern Conference, 28th in the NHL. Last Five: W-W-L-L-W. Playoff Odds: 0.08%

Birthday

Daniel Alfredsson, future Hall-of-Famer, turns 42 today. In 1,246 games (mostly with the Ottawa Senators, a little with the Detroit Red Wings), he scored 444 goals and 713 assists.

Elsewhere

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Boston Bruins, 5PM
New Jersey Devils Vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 5PM
Columbus Blue Jackets, 5PM
Los Angeles Kings vs. Ottawa Senators, 5:30PM
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 5:30PM
New York Islanders vs. St. Louis Blues, 6PM
Winnipeg Jets vs. Colorado Avalanche, 7PM
Nashville Predators vs. Arizona Coyotes, 7PM
Minnesota Wild vs. San Jose Sharks, 8:30PM

Probable Starting Lineups

Calgary Flames

Buffalo Sabres

Check here later for the GameThread, live at 4:30PM. And as always, look out for our pair of recaps, the game wrap soon after the final horn and our morning after advanced statistical recap.