Preview: Calgary Flames @ Toronto Maple Leafs 12/6/17 (28/82): Leafs Go For The Season Sweep

Calgary Flames @ Toronto Maple Leafs, 5:30 PM MT, Air Canada Centre, Toronto ON

The Flames hit the road for a brief two game road trip, with first stop being the Air Canada Centre to take on the Maple Leafs. The Flames look like they are at the crossroads of the young season as things are slowly starting to slip away. The Flames aren’t in the midst of a long losing streak, but the way they are playing is cause for concern. Calgary showed little jump in Saturday’s loss to the Edmonton Oilers and then came out and snapped the Flyers 10 game losing streak with a zero effort performance. Mike Smith has had some rough starts lately, which isn’t good for the Flames. In his last 4 starts he’s given up 13 goals and won only once.

The Maple Leafs on the other hand just keep rolling. Toronto sits in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference and they lead the NHL in GF with 98. This little home stand they are starting sees the Leafs host the Flames and Oilers, two teams they beat just 3 games ago. As good as they have been on the season, the Pacific Division hasn’t been kind to Auston Matthews and Co. They are 4-4-1 in their 9 games against teams from the Pacific, with a 2-1 loss to the Canucks the latest trip to the L column against that group.

Calgary and Toronto last played on Nov. 28 with the Maple Leafs coming out on top 4-1. Traveling to Toronto hasn’t been good for the Flames and Calgary has dropped 5 in a row away from the Dome.

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 2 Philadelphia Flyers 5

Need a losing streak snapped? Call the Flames! Philly came into Calgary losers of 10 in a row and came out 5-2 winners. The Flames literally owned the first 2 periods, but a horrid 71 seconds in the 2nd period found the Flames giving up 3 goals and that was the end for Calgary. Here’s our recap and highlights from NHL.com

Toronto Maple Leafs 1 Vancouver Canucks 2

The Leafs last took the ice on Saturday and fell to the Canucks 2-1. Toronto’s lone goal came of the stick of James van Riemsdyk, but his 13th of the season wasn’t enough to get the Maple Leafs into the win column. Pension Plan Puppets has the recap and NHL.com provides the highlights.

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Mark Jankowski (C). The Flames 3rd line has been buzzing lately and Jankowski is a major reason why. While he hasn’t found the back of the net, it’s not for lack of trying. Janko has 3 points in his last 5, including a 2 goal effort against the Coyotes. The law of averages says he will start scoring more as he’s had 10 SOG over those last 5 games.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews (C). Matthew Tkachuk’s good buddy has been playing really well lately. The former #1 pick is a point a game player over his last 5 and has fired 12 SOG. Home is where the heart is for Matthews as he’s accumulated 10 points (4G 6A) in 10 games at Air Canada Centre.

by Mark Parkinson