Preview: Calgary Flames vs Tampa Bay Lightning 2/1/18 (51/82): Will The Losing Streak Stop At 5?

Calgary Flames vs Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 PM MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary AB

Well, the Flames played the best in the West, so why not top it off with the best in the East? Calgary welcomes the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Saddledome tonight as they get back to back contests with each conference leader. The Flames lost in an excruciating manor against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday and extended their losing streak to 5 games. That loss, however, was the first time in 11 games that the Flames failed to secure at least 1 point.

Calgary has fallen out of a playoff spot in the West, but not all is lost. The Flames are still only 2 points behind Dallas and one point behind the Avalanche in the Wild Card standings. Even more incredible is that Calgary is only 2 points behind the 2nd place San Jose Sharks in the Pacific Division.

The Lightning have hit a little bump lately as the best team in the East has dropped four of their last seven contests, including a rare multi game losing streak. That 3 game skid started with a loss to…….the Calgary Flames. Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy hasn’t been his sharp self lately as he’s gone 4-4-1 in his last nine starts. The NHL All Star has back to back to back rough outings where he surrendered 13 goals in those 3 games.

The Flames took the only contest between these two this season back on January 11th, but that was on the road in Tampa. Calgary has to deal with the Eastern Conference’s best team at the Saddledome, which hasn’t been a good place for the Flames this year. Calgary is 12-12-3 at home and the Lightning play well everywhere. On the road this season Tampa Bay is 17-8-2 and the Lightning are 5-2-0 in their last 7 trips to Calgary.

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Tampa Bay Lightning Coverage: Raw Charge

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 2 Vegas Golden Knights 4

This one got away from the Flames and got away fast. Calgary blew a 1 goal lead VERY late in the 3rd period and the Golden Knights put this one away in 10 seconds. Yes, ten seconds. Here’s our recap and the highlights from NHL.com

Tampa Bay Lightning 1 Winnipeg Jets 3

The Lightning had their 3 game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday night 3-1. The Lightning couldn’t solve Michael Hutchinson more than once in his first start of the season and at the other end of the rink Louis Domingue surrendered 3 goals on 37 shots to take the loss. Raw Charge has the recap and NHL.com provides the highlights.

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Matthew Tkachuk (F). Tkachuk is doing two things lately: scoring goals and adding zero’s to the check the Flames are eventually going to have to write him. The young forward has a point in 12 of his last 17 and 4 goals in his last 5.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Steven Stamkos (C). Stamkos was red hot as the Lightning headed into the All Star Break. Tampa’s captain had collected a point in 13 of Tampa’s last 17 games, including 4 points in the 2 games right before the stoppage. Stamkos was held off the score sheet against the Flames, but he has 24 assists on the road this season.

by Mark Parkinson