Calgary Flames @ Columbus Blue Jackets 5 PM MT, Nationwide Area, Columbus OH

TV: SNW

Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 16-9-2 (34 pts) - Columbus Blue Jackets 15-9-2 (32 pts)

NHL Standings

The Flames will close out a 2 game road trip with a stop in Columbus to visit the Blue Jackets. Calgary has won 2 in a row and has taken over 1st place in the Pacific Division. Where once there was a goalie controversy there is now a new question: they’re both playing well, who should play? David Rittich has been strong all year and while Mike Smith hasn’t faced the toughest competition lately, he’s looking better with each start. Having to decide which goaltender to start because they aren’t playing poorly is a good problem to have.

The Blue Jackets come into this contest with a similar record as the Flames, placing them 2nd in the Met and 5th overall in the Eastern Conference. Columbus has been playing well coming into this meeting with the Flames, having won 6 of their last 10 games. The Jackets are 7th in the league on GF with 90 (one behind Calgary) and they’re 6th in the NHL with an average of 3.46 goals scored per game. Where they do tend to struggle is keeping the puck out of the net. Columbus is 15th in the league with 82 GA and they’ve given up 4 or more goals in 11 of their 26 games.

The Flames haven’t had the best of luck when visiting the Buckeye State. Calgary is 11-18-0 against the Blue Jackets in their own building, but they have won 3 of the last 5 times they’ve played in Columbus’ barn.

Starting Goalies (E=Expected, C=Confirmed)

Flames: Rittich (E)- 8-2-1, 2.21 GAA, .924 Save%

Blue Jackets: Bobrovsky (E)- 10-8-0, 2.72 GAA, .911 Save%

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Columbus Blue Jackets Coverage: The Cannon

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 3 Chicago Blackhawks 2

Columbus Blue Jackets 2 NY Islanders 3

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Mikael Backlund (C): 5G - 11A, 5 points in last 4 games

Columbus Blue Jackets

Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

Pierre-Luc Dubois (C): 13G - 12A, 6 points in last 3 games