Preview: Calgary Flames @ Dallas Stars 12/22/19 (38/82): Flames Look To Snap 3 Game Skid

Calgary Flames @ Dallas Stars, 5 PM MT, American Airlines Center, Dallas TX

TV: SN, NHLN, TVAS – Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 18-14-5 (41 pts) – Dallas Stars 20-13-4 (44 pts)

NHL Standings

The Flames are hitting the road for three straight with their first stop being Dallas to take on the Stars Sunday evening. Maybe a little road trip can help cure the Flames as they dropped three of four at home and things aren’t looking so good right now. In Calgary’s three game skid they have only scored four goals with three of them coming in a 4-3 OT loss to the Canadiens Thursday night. Calgary’s disturbing trend of playing poorly in the second period was on full display against the Canadiens as the Flames blew a 2-0 lead and were out shot 16-7.

Dallas meanwhile has been playing pretty uneven lately. The Stars are 3-3 in their last six games and they just lost to Florida 7-4 on Friday night. Ben Bishop took the loss in that game and had his worst game of the season, surrendering six goals on 20 shots. Games like that were rare for Bishop early on, but he’s struggled over his last eight starts, losing five of those eight. The Stars offence hasn’t helped him much along the way as they’ve only scored 10 goals for him in those five losses.

Dallas and Calgary have split so far this season with Calgary winning their first meeting in Dallas back on November 10th. The Flames typically play poorly at home against the Stars, but they’ve been decent when visiting American Airlines Arena. Calgary is 6-6-0 in their last twelve visits to Dallas.

Starting Goalies (E=Expected, C=Confirmed)

Flames: Rittich (E)- 15-8-5, 2.77 GAA, .913 Save%

Stars: Bishop (E)- 12-8-3, 2.29 GAA, .926 Save%

Team Leaders

Flames: Goals: Lindholm (15) Points: Tkachuk (29) PIM: Lucic (34) Save%: Rittich (.913)

Stars: Goals: Hintz (12) Points: Seguin (30) PIM: Radulov (30) Save%: Bishop (.926)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Dallas Stars Coverage: Defending Big D

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 3 – Montreal Canadiens 4 (OT)

Dallas Stars 4 – Florida Panthers 7

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Johnny Gaudreau (F): 6 points in last 5 games

Dallas Stars

Tyler Seguin (C): 7 points in last 5 games

by Mark Parkinson