Preview: Calgary Flames @ Vegas Golden Knights 11/23/18 (23/82): Flames Looking For 4th Straight Win

Calgary Flames @ Vegas Golden Knights, 4 PM MT, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas NV

TV: SN1, SNW

Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 13-8-1 (27 points) – Vegas Golden Knights 10-12-1 (21 points)

Complete NHL Standings

Your first place Calgary Flames will hit the road today for a late afternoon tilt in Las Vegas with the Golden Knights. The Flames have won 3 straight, all in convincing fashion, including a 7-2 beat down of Vegas last Sunday. Calgary is getting hot right now and a major part of their recent success is the pay of David Rittich. The Czech keeper has won 6 straight and he’s been in the pipes for the Flames 3 game winning streak. It’s doubtful Rittich will get the nod tonight, so be prepared for Mike Smith in net tonight. Smith has been a shell of the goaltender he was for most of last season, struggling early in games and not being a goalie the Flames can count on. He has yet to start against Vegas this seson, but last year he was 0-2-0 against the Golden Knights and he gave up 8 goals in the two games he started.

Vegas comes into this game licking their wounds from the beating the Flames put on them last week. Malcolm Subban got seriously roughed up in that game and Vegas didn’t stand a chance from the opening face off. Vegas recovered with a 3-2 OT victory over the Arizona Coyotes and Flames fans shouldn’t expected Subban in net tonight. Odds are Marc-Andre Fleury will be between the pipes and he owned the Flames last season. The veteran goal keeper won 3 of his 4 starts, the only loss being a 7-1 defeat in game 81 of last season where he gave up 6 goals.

Calgary comes into this game slightly banged up as things were starting to get rolling. Michael Stone was placed on IR on Thursday with blod clots and Michael Frolik was placed on IR with a lower body injury and won’t be on the current road trip. Stone hasn’t played a significant role this season, but Frolik has had a decent start to his season and him being out of the lineup will affect the Flames game plan.

Starting Goalies

Flames: Smith (E)- 5-7-1, 3.48 GAA, .876 Save%

Golden Knights: Fleury (E)- 10-8-1, 2.58 GAA, .901 Save%

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Vegas Golden Knights: Knights On Ice

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 6 Winnipeg Jets 3

Vegas Golden Knights 3 Arizona Coyotes 2

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Sean Monahan- 12G 13A, 7 points in last 5 games

Vegas Golden Knights

Max Pacioretty- 6G 2A, 4 points in last 5 games

by Mark Parkinson