Preview: Calgary Flames vs Washington Capitals 10/30/2016 (10/82)

Calgary Flames vs Washington Capitals, 7:30 PM MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary AB

The red hot Calgary Flames welcome Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals to the Scotiabank Saddledome Sunday night. Calgary is on a mini win streak having won 3 in a row in very convincing fashion. Brian Elliott seems to have gotten over his early season struggles and looks like the keeper the Flames thought they were trading for. The Flames lead the all time series between these two with a record of 43-35-13 and are a dominating 26-11-7 against the Caps at home. Not only is the record outstanding, they’re over a goal a game (3.9-2.6) better than Washington over that time as well. Last season the 2 split, oddly enough, each winning in their other’s building with Washington outscoring the Flames 8-4.

Washington comes into this contest having lost 2 out of their last 3 and are in the final game of their 3 game swing through the West. Washington hasn’t been filling the net with pucks this season and they find themselves 21st in the league with only 19 goals on the young season. Where they do excel, however, is keeping the puck out of the net. Braden Holtby and Philipp Grubauer have both been incredibly stingy and have Save %’s of .910 and .953 respectively.

Both teams are less than average on special teams as well and that type of match-up has favored the Flames lately. Calgary has been able to get their power play out of the NHL cellar and Washington’s PP and PK is only slightly better than the Flames. This looks like another match-up on paper where the Flames could break out and keep their winning streak alive. The only thing that could stand in the way of the Flames continued winning streak is the brick walls that the Capitals have between the pipes. Here’s how the teams match-up:

Calgary Flames 5 Ottawa Senators 2

The Flames last took to the ice on Friday night and took full advantage of Ottawa’s atrocious goaltending, winning 5-2. The Flames got 2 points from Alex Chiasson and 2 goals and an assist from Dougie Hamilton. Brian Elliott stopped 31 of the 33 shots he faced and continues to climb out the early season hole he was in. Here’s our recap, the highlights, post game reaction and stats from the game.

Washington Capitals 5 Vancouver Canucks 2

The Caps have earned a split so far on their swing through Western Canada having lost to Edmonton, but getting a 5-2 win on Saturday night in Vancouver. TJ Oshie had a 2 point game and Marcus Johansson put in 2 goals of his own. Our friends over at Jasper’s Rink have the recap and here’s the highlights from the 5-2 win.

(E= expected)

Players To Watch

Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images

Calgary Flames: Johnny Gaudreau (F). Gaudreau seems to be hitting his stride and as of game time, he leads the Flames in points with 7. Two of those 7 came in Friday night’s game against the Senators. This is good sign for the Flames as the young phenom is starting to pile up assists and if he can start moving the puck, the goals will come.

Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Washington Capitals: TJ Oshie (F). Oshie got 2 points in his first two games and then cooled off until he got 2 in Saturday night’s game against the Canucks. Oshie isn’t struggling for lack of trying. He’s had 20 shots on goal in the 7 games the Caps have played so far. Oshie feasted on the Flames before he came to Washington, but in the 2 games he’s played against the Flames as a member of the Capitals he has only 1 assist.