Preview: Calgary Flames vs Colorado Avalanche 11/19/19 (24/82): High Powered Avs Visit Calgary Tonight

Calgary Flames vs Colorado Avalanche, 7 PM MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary AB

TV: SN1 – Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 10-10-3 (23 pts) – Colorado Avalanche 12-6-2 (25 pts)

NHL Standings

It can’t get worse right? The Flames return back to the Saddledome Tuesday night for quick one game home stand against the Colorado Avalanche. The Flames have dropped four in a row and their last two in spectacular fashion. The Flames were shut out in back to back games, first 3-0 to the Arizona Coyotes and then 6-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Flames scored one lonely goal last week, while surrendering 12. I’m no math major, but that’s bad.

The roller coaster season that is Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan continued it’s wild ride downhill last week, with the Flames stars continuing to struggle. Monahan had the only Flames goal of the week and the two have only combined for 5 goals in their last 18 games. While not all of the Flames problems can be laid at the feet of these two, they need to be better. And soon. The Flames as a whole aren’t setting the world on fire either as they’ve only scored three goals during this four game losing streak.

Then there’s the Colorado Avalanche who seem to be able to score at will. The Avalanche have won four of their last five and have put the puck in the net 24 times over those five games, including a nine spot they hung on Nashville. The Avs sit at 2nd in the NHL in GF with 73, thirteen behind league leading Washington. Nathan MacKinnon leads the Avalanche in goals and is 7th overall in the league with 13, but he’s also deadly on the PP. MacKinnon has six PPG, good for 7th overall in the league. Not to be out shined, Calgary native Cale Makar has 10 points in his last five games.

While they have been strong lately, this Colorado team is very streaky. They started the season winning eight out of their first ten before going on a five game losing streak which then turned into their current run of winning four of five. Unlike Calgary, Colorado has been able to put together some sustained winning streaks.

These two last played on opening night with Colorado defeating the Flames 5-3. There was some rough stuff in this game due to two borderline hits by Colorado giant Nikita Zadorov, so we should know early on if there any lingering bad blood from game number one. The Flames could use a kick start, so maybe a little grit to start this game wouldn’t be a bad thing. The Flames will need a fast start because if they fall behind early this Avalanche team will bury them quickly.

Starting Goalies (E=Expected,C=Confirmed)

Flames: Rittich (E)- 9-5-3, 2.71 GAA, .914 Save%

Avalanche: Grubauer (E)- 6-3-2, 2.80 GAA, .915 Save%

Team Leaders

Flames: Goals: Tkachuk (10) Points: Tkachuk (20) PIM: Lucic (34) Save%: Rittich (.914)

Avalanche: Goals: MacKinnon (13) Points: MacKinnon (29) PIM: Zadorov (39) Save%: Grubauer (.915)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Colorado Avalanche Coverage: Mile High Hockey

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 0 – Vegas Golden Knights 6

Colorado Avalanche 5 – Vancouver Canucks 4 (OT)

Players to Watch

Calgary Flames

David Rittich (G): 3-0-1 in last 5 starts, 10 goals allowed on 154 shots

Colorado Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon (C): 11 points in last 5 games

by Mark Parkinson