Preview: Calgary Flames @ Buffalo Sabres 11/21/16 (21/82)

Calgary Flames @ Buffalo Sabres, 5 PM MT, KeyBank Center, Buffalo NY

There’s no rest for the wicked as the Calgary Flames leave Detroit and head right to Buffalo for back to back games. The Flames are coming off a hard fought win over the Wings that gave them their 3rd win their last 4 games. Calgary is riding the hot hand of Chad Johnson who has started 6 of the Flames games in November and holds a 4-2-0 record so far this month. It would be a tall order to toss Johnson back in net against the team he played for last season, but he’s been so solid it’s hard to argue with Gulutzan if he does. The Flames are eeking out wins during this little run and even though Buffalo ranks near the bottom of the league in GF, at some point the Flames will need to put 4 or 5 in to win.

Buffalo has had a brutal start to their season. Losing Jack Eichel has clearly hurt them, but they have been BAD. Starting with their 4-3 OT loss to the Flames, the Sabres have dropped 13 of 16. Yes, you read that correctly, 13 of 16. Over that stretch they have been shut out twice, lost in 2 shoot outs and lost in OT twice. One thing Buffalo has going for them is Calgary isn’t so hot when they visit the Sabres. The Flames are 14-32-5 when visiting the northern NY city and since 2010 Calgary sits at 1-4-0 in Buffalo’s home building.

Here’s how the teams match-up:

Calgary Flames 3 Detroit Red Wings 2

The Calgary Flames started their 6 game Eastern Conference trek by beating the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena Sunday night, 3-2. Calgary battled back from being down 1-0 and tied 2-2 to beat the Red Wings and win their 3rd in 4 tries. Here’s our recap, highlights, post game with Garnet Hathaway after scoring his first goal and the stats from the game.

Buffalo Sabres 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 1 (SO)

The high octane Pittsburgh Penguins rolled into KeyBank Center and got handed a 2-1 loss in a shoot out to the Sabres. Anders Nilsson made 46 saves and Cal O'Reilly got the only goal of the shoot out giving Buffalo the win. Die By the Blade has the recap and NHL.com provides the highlights.

Players to Watch

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Calgary Flames: Dougie Hamilton (D). Maybe it took being mentioned in trade rumors, but the younger Hamilton has picked up his game. Hamilton has a very “quiet” 3 point game against the Red Wings and it’s the second time he’s been on the plus side of the +/- in a row. Hamilton has had a brutal month (0 points in 9 games leading up to the Detroit game), but here’s to hoping his two solid games in a row can get him moving. In 2 games against Buffalo last season Hamilton had a goal and 2 assists and in his prior 12 games against the Sabres (all as a Bruin) he has 7 points.

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Sabres: Matt Moulson (F). Moulson is one one of the “hotter” Sabres players coming into this game. He has 3 points in the 10 games Buffalo has played this month, but was held scoreless against the Flames back in October. In his previous 5 games against the Flames, Moulson has 4 points, 3 of which were goals.