Calgary Flames vs Washington Capitals, 7 PM MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary AB

TV: SNF - Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 5-4-1 (11 pts) - Washington Capitals 6-2-2 (14 pts)

NHL Standings

The Flames return home to the Saddledome after a mini two game swing through California that saw them split with the Kings and Ducks. While the team struggled to get out of their own way in LA against the Kings, the Flames were able to put together a spectacular performance in Anaheim. Cam Talbot backstopped the Flames to a 2-1 victory in a building where the Flames have had almost zero success over the years. What is getting slightly concerning is the Flames lack of scoring from their big guns. Sean Monahan hasn’t scored a goal in eight straight and only has three assists over that stretch. Johnny Gaudreau only has one goal in that same eight game run and Matthew Tkachuk hasn’t found the back of the net since a two goal outburst against the Kings back on Oct 8th. What is a little less concerning is that the Flames secondary scoring is picking up the slack. Derek Ryan, Sam Bennett, Andrew Mangiapane, Austin Czarnik and Michael Stone have been stepping up.

The Saddledome will be the first stop on a trip through Western Canada for the Washington Capitals. For a team with a 6-2-2 record they are quite the mixed bag. The Caps are second in the league in GF with 36, just two behind league leading Toronto. They have two players with double digit point totals (Carlson 18, Ovechkin 10) and T.J. Oshie is knocking on the door with nine. Where they have really struggled is in the goals allowed department. Washington is fifth in the NHL in GA with 31 and the main culprit has been all world keeper Braden Holtby. In his first three games of the season he gave up 13 goals on 57 shots, including a three shot, three goal allowed performance against the Colorado Avalanche back on 10/14 that saw him play exactly 7:54. Since that start things have turned around for the Saskatchewan native, winning two straight games while surrendering only five goals on 72 shots.

The Flames have a very commanding lead in the overall series at home with a 27-13-7 record against the Caps in Calgary. However, much of that success has been in the past. In Washington’s last 10 visits to the Saddledome they are 7-3-0, including winning four out of their last five in Calgary.

Starting Goalies (E=Expected, C=Confirmed)

Flames: Rittich (E)- 4-3-1, 2.84 GAA, .912 Save%

Capitals: Holtby- (E)- 3-1-2, 3.70 GAA, .878 Save%

Team Leaders

Flames: Goals: Lindholm (5) Points: Gaudreau (8) PIM: Lucic (26) Save%: Rittich (.912)

Capitals: Goals: Oshie (7) Points: Carlson (18) PIM: Gudas (17) Save%: Samsonov (.933)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Washington Capitals Coverage: Japers’ Rink

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 2 - Anaheim Ducks 1

Washington Capitals 5 - Chicago Blackhawks 3

Players To Watch

Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images

Flames: Derek Ryan (C) 3 points in last 4 games

Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images

Capitals: T.J. Oshie (F) 4 goals in last 4 games