Preview: Calgary Flames vs Philadelphia Flyers 12/12/18 (32/82): Flames Return Home To Weak Flyers

Calgary Flames vs Philadelphia Flyers, 6:30 PM MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary AB

TV: SN

Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 19-10-2 (40 pts) – Philadelphia Flyers 12-13-3 (27 pts)

NHL Standings

The Flames return home for an early evening tilt with the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night. Calgary will doubt be looking to get back into the win column after a disappointing 1-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers Sunday night. The loss snapped Calgary’s 6 game winning streak and was their 5th straight loss to the Oilers in Edmonton. Coming into this contest with the Flyers the Flames will be getting a key cog back in the lineup: Mark Giordano. The Flames captain has served his 2 game suspension for a hit on Mikko Koivu in the Flames 2-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild last week. The news on Mikael Backlund is still up in the air after he took what looked like a head shot in the Wild game as well and his return doesn’t look to be happening anytime soon. In any event the Flames are getting production from unlikely sources (Oilver Kylington and Alan Quine) and they just don’t seem to be phased by who is in the lineup for whatever the reasons.

The Flyers have dropped 8 of their last 11 going back to November 14th and they’ve been going it in spectacular fashion lately. In their last 6 losses they’ve allowed 4 or more goals in all 6, including a 5, 6 and 7 spot. They are currently only 1 point out of last place in the Eastern Conference and their 5 game road trip isn’t going to be easy. They opened the journey with a solid win in Buffalo, but got clobbered in Winnipeg 7-1. After Calgary, Philly travels to Edmonton and then Vancouver to finish out the trip, none of those are cupcakes. Philadelphia is 7th in the league in GA (101), their PP is 29th in the league (13.6%) and their penalty kill is dead last at 71.7%.

All of this adds up, on paper, to a favorable matchup for the Flames. Calgary is 30-26-9 at the Saddledome against the Flyers, including winning 3 of their last 5 meetings with Philadelphia on home ice.

Starting Goalies (E=Expected, C=Confirmed)

Flames: Smith (E)- 11-7-1, 2.88 GAA, .894 Save%

Flyers: Neuvirth (E)- 0-2-0, 6.14 GAA, .719 Save%

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Philadelphia Flyers Coverage: Broad Street Hockey

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 0 Edmonton Oilers 1

Philadelphia Flyers 1 Winnipeg Jets 7

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Sean Monahan (C)- 18G – 17A. 8 points in last 5 games, 7 PPG (4th in NHL)

Philadelphia Flyers

Jakub Voracek (F)- 8G – 15A, 6 points in last 5 games

by Mark Parkinson