Preview: Calgary Flames vs Washington Capitals 10/27/18 (11/82): This Could Be Another Goal Fest

Calgary Flames vs Washington Capitals, 2 PM MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary AB

Calgary Flames 5-5-0 (10 points) – Washington Capitals 4-3-2 (10 points)

NHL Standings

The Flames second game on their mini home stand sees the defending Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals coming to the Scotiabank Saddledome for a Saturday afternoon contest with the Flames. The Flames are bleeding and they need a win to stop said bleeding or things could get out of hand quickly.

Calgary hasn’t played well at all in their last 3 games with Thursday night’s slaughter at the hands of the Penguins being the crown jewel in the current mess. Mike Smith was chased after 6 goals and Pittsburgh never took their foot off the gas. The Flames PP isn’t helping either as they are 1 for their last 24 with the extra skater. Bill Peters is trying everything by mixing and matching lines and scratching players, but nothing seems to be working. It’s still early, but the Flames right now have the look of a team that’s teetering on the ledge.

Washington isn’t having the best start to their 2018-19 season, but they sure like playing in Calgary. The Capitals are 7-3-0 in their last 10 visits to the Dome and with the way the Flames are playing lately that record could grow Saturday afternoon. Washington is 4th in the NHL in GF with 35, which could also balloon by the end of the day. While they do have a potent offence, they can’t stop pucks from going in the net. The Caps are 11th in the NHL in GA with 33 and they’ve given up 4 or more goals 5 times on the young season.

The Flames struggling PP unit should have a chance to gain some traction as Washington’s PK is a not so impressive 72.2%…….the exact percentage that the Flames are killing penalties at as well. All the Flames have to do to win is contain Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson, Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov, so you know, no big deal.

Team Leaders

Calgary Flames

Goals: Lindholm (6), Points: Gaudreau (12) PIM: Tkachuk (9) Save%: Rittich (.933)

Washington Capitals

Goals: Ovechkin (8), Points: Carlson (14), PIM: Vrana (12), Save%: Holtby (.888)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Washington Capitals Coverage: Japers’ Rink

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 9 (recap)

Washington Capitals 1 Edmonton Oilers 4 (recap)

by Mark Parkinson