Calgary Flames vs Buffalo Sabres Preview 3/3/2016

Calgary Flames @ Buffalo Sabres, 7 PM ET, First Niagara Center, Buffalo, NY

The Flames make their annual trip to the land of chicken wings Thursday night to take on the Buffalo Sabres. This is game 3 of a 4 game trip through the Eastern Conference that hasn’t been a success so far for the boys from Alberta. Calgary has dropped the first two games of this trip (Philly and Boston) and are now on a season high 6 game losing streak that has sealed their post season fate. Calgary hasn’t had a ton of success in Buffalo over the years, compiling a 14-31-5 record against the Sabres, but they have won the last 2 meetings between the teams. Calgary beat Buffalo back on December 10th 4-3 as part of their 12 game home winning streak. Neither team is heading towards meaningful Spring hockey, so it’s pride on the line and Calgary trying to sweep the season series from the Sabres. Jack Eichel comes into this game as one of the NHL’s hot young stars and Calgary will need to keep the talented rookie in check if they have any chance of winning. Here’s how both teams match-up:

Calgary last played on Tuesday night in another lackluster back to back in Boston. The Flames skated flat for most of the contest and could only put one past Boston net minder Tuukka Rask. As it sometimes does, an untimely, late game penalty set the Bruins up for the game winning goal, robbing Joni Ortio of another chance to win where he played very well. Jakub Nakladal notched Calgary’s only goal, his first of the season. Here’s the highlights:

The Sabres last took to the ice on Tuesday as well and dropped a 2-1 OT decision to the only team below Calgary in the Western Conference standings, the Edmonton Oilers. Robin Lehner did all he could, stopping 39 of the 41 shots he faced, but it wasn’t enough. Buffalo’s lone goal came courtesy of Cal O’Reilly, his first of the season. Here’s the highlights:

Calgary Flames Projected Lines (these are the projected line and can change at any time up until puck drops)

Scratches: Dennis Wideman (Susp)

Injuries: Karri Ramo, Ladislav Smid

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

Scratches: None

Injuries: Tyler Ennis, Cody McCormick, Ryan O’Reilly

by Mark Parkinson