Calgary Flames vs NY Islanders, 7:30 PM MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary AB

TV: SN1

Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 36-16-7 (79 pts) - NY Islanders 35-17-6 (76 pts)

NHL Standings

The Flames will welcome the NY Islanders to the Saddledome for their only regular season visit in 2018-19 on Wednesday night. Calgary returned home after a 1-1-2 road trip to defeat the Arizona Coyotes 5-2 on Monday afternoon. A little home cooking never hurts as the Flames looked like a much different team than the one that left Alberta for the four game road swing. The five goals the Flames scored was an offence outburst that was desperately needed after failing to score more than 3 goals in all four of their consecutive defeats. With back to back five goal games the Flames have as many goals in two contests as they did in their previous four games. Which when you think about it is a serious dry spell for a team that is 3rd in the NHL in scoring with 217 markers.

Speaking of goal scoring or lack thereof, there are the NY Islanders. The Isles are 26th in the league in putting the puck in the net, which usually leads to a bottom dwelling team that is already out of the playoffs. Not the case with these Islanders. The Islanders have the 5th most points in the league with 76 and are only two points behind the Bruins for second place in the Eastern Conference. How are the getting it done? Defence. NY has given up a league low 133 goals, sixteen better than the next closest team in the Bruins. They also only give up, on average, 30.6 shots per game which is good for 10th overall in the league. cCombine that with their stellar goaltending (Greiss and Lehner both have .930 or better Save%) and it makes total sense why the Islanders are playing such great hockey. It’s rare a team loses a superstar in the off-season and has this type of season, but the Islanders are doing just that and it’s a great story.

While the Flames have one of the best home records in the NHL (18-5-5), NY is no slouch on the road, going 17-10-2 away from their home rink(s). And the Islanders haven’t been the most gracious guests either. NY has won six out of their last 10 times they’ve visited the Saddledome.

Starting Goalies (E=Expected, C=Confirmed)

Flames: Rittich (E)- 20-5-5, 2.66 GAA, .911 Save%

Islanders: Lehner (E)- 18-9-4, 2.08 GAA, .929 Save%

Team Leaders

Flames: Goals- Gaudreau (29), Points- Gaudreau (78), PIM- Bennett (81), Save%- Rittich (.911)

Islanders: Goals- Lee (19), Points- Barzal (50), PIM- Lee (50), Save%- Greiss (.930)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

NY Islanders Coverage: Lighthouse Hockey

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 5 - Arizona Coyotes 2

NY Islanders 5 - Edmonton Oilers 2

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Austin Czarnik (C): 4G - 4A, 2 goals in last 2 games

NY Islanders

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Bailey (F): 13G - 31A, 6 points in last 5 games