Preview: Calgary Flames @ Columbus Blue Jackets 11/2/19 (15/82): It’s The Battle Of Struggling Offence

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

TV: SNW, SNP – Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 7-6-2 (16 pts) – Columbus Blue Jackets 5-5-3 (13 pts)

NHL Standings

The Flames will try and build on the momentum from their 6-5 OT win over the Nashville Predators tonight when they take on the Blue Jackets in Columbus. This is stop #3 of five for the Flames on season long 10 day road trip. Calgary has dropped two of the three games so far, but have managed to salvage three points by getting OT in the Heritage Classic.

Thursday night was something of a miracle for the Flames as they found the back of the net six times and managed to climb out of a 4-1 hole and a 5-4 deficit to defeat Nashville. The six goal outburst was the most goals the Flames have scored all season (the sixth against Florida came via the shoot out) and their best on the road. In Calgary’s first two game of the trip out East they only managed a goal per game in losses to the Winnipeg Jets and Carolina Hurricanes.

The Blue Jackets are currently mired in a three game losing streak, with the latest coming Friday night in a 4-3 OTL to the St. Louis Blues. This is the second game of a back to back for Columbus that has seen them play an odd schedule. They played at Philly, came home to play Edmonton, then went to St. Louis last night and now are home to face the Flames.

Columbus has struggled with the basics this season and it shows in their 5-5-3 record. Much like the Flames the Blue Jackets have struggled with scoring goals. The Jackets sit 23rd in the NHL in GF with 34, seven less than the Flames have collected. Their goaltending hasn’t really helped them either as they sit at 6th in the league with 47 GA. So if you do the math, you aren’t going to win many games with a goal differential of -13 (Calgary is -7). The 47 goals have come on exactly 400 shots, which isn’t great either and both Columbus keepers have save percentages below .890.

Calgary is 6-4-0 in their last 10 trips to Columbus, including winning 3 of their last 4. The Flames have struggled on the road this year, going 3-5-1 and are only averaging 2.1 goals per game on the road and that includes their six goal outburst from Thursday. Meanwhile the Jackets are giving up an average of 3.5 goals a game in their six home games so far this season. Calgary could have the chance to add to their goal and win totals tonight, but if the Flames who started this road trip show up we could be in for a snoozer.

Starting Goalies (E=Expected, C= Confirmed)

Flames: Talbot (E)- 1-2-0, 2.46 GAA, .908 Save%

Blue Jackets: Korpisalo- (E)- 5-4-1, 3.37 GAA, .886 Save%

Team Leaders

Flames: Goals: Lindholm (9) Points: Tkachuk (13) PIM: Lucic (26) Save%: Talbot (.908)

Blue Jackets: Goals: Luc-Dubois (6) Points: Luc-Dubois (10) PIM: Luc-Dubois (13) Save%: Merzlikins (.891)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Columbus Blue Jackets Coverage: The Cannon

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 6 – Nashville Predators 5 (OT)

Columbus Blue Jackets 3 – St. Louis Blues 4 OT

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames: Matthew Tkachuk (F): 5 points in last 4 games

Columbus Blue Jackets: Pierre Luc-Dubois (C): 6 points in last 5 games

by Mark Parkinson