Calgary Flames at New Jersey Devils game preview: Johnny Gaudreau is also from New Jersey

Onwards as the Calgary Flames continue their trek through the east, this time taking the time to stop off and hang out with the New Jersey Devils. The last time Hell’s teams got together, it was fire who was ultimately victorious, burning the Devils with a 5-4 shootout win. That game only reached the shootout thanks to Curtis Glencross‘ game tying goal with just five seconds remaining. Ah, memories. Mike Cammalleri did his damnedest to make his old team pay with goals in both regulation and the shootout, but Sean Monahan and Jiri Hudler took quick care of that.

Tonight, they meet on Jersey turf.

And hopefully, the Flames will score a goal, because they didn’t last game, when facing off against the New York Rangers. Hopefully they score more goals than the Devils do, so they can win the game and pick up two desperately needed points. No more situations where Kevin Hayes capitalizes off of a horrific Dennis Wideman gaffe, undoing all of poor Karri Ramo’s stellar work. Not even Emile Poirier’s NHL debut could save the day. | Recap | Stats | Boxscore | You gotta at least watch for Karri Ramo:

And the Devils? Well, they have a worse record than the Flames, at least. And they probably aren’t making the playoffs, which means a guy like Jaromir Jagr could be traded so he gets to keep up his own post-season shenanigans. In the mean time, New Jersey is on a four-game winning streak, beating stalwart teams such as the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, and Arizona Coyotes. They also beat the Vancouver Canucks! In regulation! Gosh, that sure was nice of them.

For more on the opposition, head on over to In Lou We Trust.

Game time: 5:30 p.m. MT, because the eastern time zone is still awful

Channel: SN

All-time record: Is this one even fair? The Flames are winning 61-22-11-2 with a +115 goal differential. What the hell happened here? I love it. Go Flames.

Common threads: Heeeyyyyy Mike Cammalleri… how's it goin'… You had 89 goals and 178 points with us over four seasons… Now you have 22 goals and 30 points with the Devils over 48 games… That's nice… A rookie from New Jersey is outscoring you. As is half of the Flames' defence core.

Hey, speaking of rookies from New Jersey! The Calgary Flames do have that one tie to Jersey. His name is Johnny Gaudreau. He's great.

The Devils have an Eric Gelinas. The Flames’ Gelinas is better.

Approaching milestones: Deryk Engelland: three more games for 300. Mason Raymond: six more games to hit 500. Kris Russell: 10 more games until 500.

David Jones: 10 goals until 100. TJ Brodie: seven points until 100.

Michael Ferland: one goal until one goal. Emile Poirier: one point until one point.

As for the other guys, Steve Bernier – yes, the guy from the 2012 Cup Final – needs two more goals for 100 on the career. Ryane Clowe needse threee moree assistse fore 200e totale, while Tuomo Ruutu needs five. May none of them score.

Scoreboard watching: There’s nothing. Really. If you want to keep dreaming big then hope for an Ottawa Senators win over the Anaheim Ducks, but that’s it. What a slow night.

Current records and leaders

Possible starting lineups

And nary a lineup change was to be had, as Bob Hartley recognized Brandon Bollig would be of no use to him, and Karri Ramo did, indeed, have a good game. And all was well, yay.

by Ari Yanover