Preview: Calgary Flames @ NY Rangers 2/5/17 (55/82)

The Flames roll into NYC to take on the Rangers in a Sunday afternoon matinee. Calgary, winners of their last 3, have climbed back into the Western Conference playoff standings with convincing wins over Ottawa, Minnesota and most recently, the NJ Devils. Brian Elliott has taken over as Calgary’s starting goaltender as Glen Gulutzan has employed a “win, keep playing” attitude towards the Flames crease. Sean Monahan continues to lead the Flames re-surging offence, having nabbed a point in 8 out of his last 10 games. MSG hasn’t been the most welcoming of places for the Flames as of late. The folks from Alberta are 3-7-0 in their 10 stops in the Big Apple.

The Rangers and their 65 points sit in 5th place in the Eastern Conference and 4th in the Met. It’s been an up and down month for the Rangers as they’ve had losing streaks of 3 games and 2 games sandwiched in between 2 and 3 game wining streaks. NY has played 17 games against Western Conference teams and they are 12-5-0 when playing outside of the East. NY has been dominant against the Flames at home and have a 4-1-0 record against Calgary in their last 5 times as hosts.

Calgary fell to the Rangers 4-1 the last time these 2 met back on November 12th at the Saddledome. The Flames will look to avenge that loss this afternoon and win their 4th straight. Here’s how the teams match-up:

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 4 NJ Devils 3 (OT)

The Flames last skated on Friday night and beat the NJ Devils 4-3. Calgary blew a 2-0 lead, but got a career night from T.J. Brodie (4 assists) and Mikael Backlund played overtime hero netting the winner to give the Flames their 3rd straight win. Here’s our recap, the highlights, Brodie’s post game sound and stats from the contest.

NY Rangers 2 Buffalo Sabres 1 (OT)

The Rangers are well rested coming into this contest as they last took to the ice on Thursday night, surviving the Sabres with a 2-1 win in OT. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 36 of 37 shots and Chris Kreider netted his 20th of the season in OT to get the Rangers the win. Blue Shirt Banter has the recap and NHL.com provides the highlights.

Who’s Hot, Who’ Not

Calgary Flames

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Hot: Sean Monahan (C). Monahan just keeps rolling as the Flames are getting hot. He has 4 goals in his last 3 contests and seems to be finding his groove, which is good for everyone involved. He’s got 11 points in his last 10 and of those 11, 9 of them are goals. He’s also had 3 multi point games over that same stretch.

Not: Jyrki Jokipakka (D). Jokipakka is struggling this season. There was hope that he’d turn it on over a full season with the Flames and that just hasn’t happened. In 37 games so far this season Jokiapakka has 1 goal and 5 assists. He’s increasingly invisible on the ice and his +/- turnover differential is -17 which puts him 770th overall (of 889) in the NHL this season.

NY Rangers

Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images

Hot: J.T. Miller (C). The American born product from Ohio has been on fire lately. He’s made the score sheet in 12 of his last 15, collecting 7 goals and 9 assists over that stretch. Miller has 4 multi point games in the 15, including a 2 assist night against the Sabres on Thursday night.

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Not: Rick Nash (F). The big veteran has 1 point in his last 5 games, which was an assist he notched in a Rangers 6-4 loss to the Blue Jackets. Nash had solid months in October and November, but has tailed off since then. Nash had a donut in the Rangers 4-1 win over the Flames earlier this season.