Calgary Flames @ Colorado Avalanche, 7 PM MT, Pepsi Center, Denver CO

TV: ESPN+, SNW - Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 15-12-4 (34 pts) - Colorado Avalanche 19-8-2 (40 pts)

NHL Standings

Don’t look now, but your Calgary Flames are one of the hottest teams in the NHL. Since Bill Peters resigned as the Flames Head Coach, Calgary has reeled off five straight wins and they’re starting to put pucks in the net. Since Geoff Ward took over as interim coach Calgary has scored 14 goals in those five straight wins. They also look like a team that is having fun playing hockey. The Flames are starting to get more contributions from their star players, but their secondary scoring has come alive as well. Milan Lucic has goals in back to back games and Dillon Dube has goals in three straight. While there’s still a bit of work to do, at least things are looking up for the Calgary Flames.

Speaking of looking up, is it ever NOT for the Avalanche? The Avs are riding high, currently in second place in both the Central Division and Western Conference. They have won 11 out of their last 14, including a current six game winning streak that has seen them dominate the opposition. During this six game run the Avs have outscored their opponents 26-10 and allowed three goals or more only once. What’s even more frightening is that Colorado has seen many of their key pieces pull up lame with injuries, yet they keep on rolling. Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog have just returned to the Colorado lineup and immediately started to contribute. The two have combined for eight points over the last four games.

The Flames and Avalanche have met twice this season with Colorado taking both games by way of 5-3 and 3-2 victories. Calgary is 4-6-0 in their last 10 trips to Pepsi Center to face the Avalanche.

Starting Goalies (E=Expected,C=Confirmed)

Flames: Rittich (E)- 13-7-4, 2.70 GAA, .914 Save%

Avalanche: Grubauer (E)- 10-5-2, 2.76 GAA, .914 Save%

Team Leaders

Flames: Goals: Lindholm (14) Points: Tkachuk (25) PIM: Lucic (34) Save%: Rittich (.914)

Avalanche: Goals: MacKinnon (18) Points: MacKinnon (45) PIM: Zadorov (43) Save%: Francouz (.931)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Colorado Avalanche Coverage: Mile High Hockey

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 4 - LA Kings 3

Colorado Avalanche 4 - Boston Bruins 1

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images

Dillon Dube (F): 5 points in last 5 games

Colorado Avalanche

Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images

Mikko Rantanen (F): 6 points in last 4 games