Calgary Flames vs Colorado Avalanche Preview 3/18/2016 (71/82)

Colorado Avalanche @ Calgary Flames, 9 PM ET, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta

The Flames will finish up their 6 game homestand (3-2) against the Colorado Avalanche Friday night. The Av’s come in to this contest clinging to the last Wildcard spot in the West by one point over the Minnesota Wild. The Flames meanwhile are precariously holding on to a two point lead over Edmonton and Winnipeg that keeps them out of last place in the West. The Flames are on a modest 2 game win streak that has seen them dominate both the Blues and the Jets over the last 3 days. Calgary has gotten decent goal tending from Joni Ortio and is scoring goals at a rabid pace. They’ve put 11 in the net, while only giving up 5. The Av’s have won 3 out of their last 4 and all in convincing fashion, outscoring their opponents 11-5 over that stretch. Colorado needs points to stay ahead in the Wildcard race and the Saddledome hasn’t been an easy stop over the years for the Avalanche. The Flames own a 38-29-9 record against the Av’s at home and are a half a goal better (3.4-2.9) in those wins. This is the 3rd and final game of the season series and they’ve each won in their opponents building with the Flames taking the last game 4-0 back on January 2nd. The Flames come into this game pretty banged up with 5 players injured, 3 of them on defence. That leaves Calgary down one man on the blue line and it hasn’t been determined who will fill that spot. Here’s how the teams match up:

The Flames won their second straight game Wednesday night by beating the Winnipeg Jets 4-1. Michael Frolik,Joe Colborne, Mark Giordano and Mikael Backlund all had multi point games for the Flames as they struck early and never looked back. Joni Ortio started his 6th consecutive game and stopped 28 of 29 shots that came his way. Here's the highlights:

The Av’s last played in Vancouver on Wednesday night and took down the Canucks 3-1. Mikkel Boedker scored his 15th and 16th goals of the season and Semyon Varlamov stopped 28 of 29 shots to earn the win. Here’s the highlights:

Calgary Flames Projected Lineup (these are the projected lines and can be changed any time before the puck drop)

Scratches: None

Injuries: Karri Ramo, Ladislav Smid, TJ Brodie, Sam Benentt, Dennis Wideman

Colorado Avalanche Projected Lineup (these are the projected lines and can be changed any time before the puck drop)

Scratches:

Injuries: Jesse Winchester, Brad Stuart, Reto Berra

by Mark Parkinson