Preview: Calgary Flames @ Vegas Golden Knights 3/6/19 (67/82): Time To Win In Vegas

Calgary Flames @ Vegas Golden Knights, 8:30 PM MT, T-Mobil Arena, Las Vegas NV

TV: ESPN+, SN1

Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 41-18-7 (89 pts) – Vegas Golden Knights 36-26-5 (77 pts)

NHLStandings

The Calgary Flames are on the road for a quick trip through the desert Southwest that begins with a stop in Las Vegas to tangle with the Golden Knights. The Flames are currently on a two game losing skid with a 6-2 defeat at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs being the latest trip to the loss column. Luckily the Flames still hold a three point lead over the second place San Jose Sharks in both the Pacific Division and Western Conference, so the two straight losses haven’t allowed the Sharks to gain too much ground.

The Flames Wednesday night opponent does have some work to do however. Vegas currently sits in 5th place in the Western Conference, 12 points behind the front running Flames. Vegas is 8-10 over their last 18 games, but they have turned it on lately having won four straight. That’s kind of been how the Golden Knights season has gone. They reel off a nice winning streak, then blow that progress with a losing streak. At times Vegas is nipping at San Jose and Calgary’s heels, but then you look in the rear view mirror and they are barely visible. Either way the Golden Knights currently hold one of the six playoff spots in the West and have a four point lead on Dallas who owns the first WC spot.

Calgary has not done so well in Vegas since the upstart Golden Knights joined the league in 2017-18. Calgary overall is 2-4-0 against Vegas and have lost all three games they’ve played at T-Mobil Arena by a combined score of 13-3.

Starting Goalies (E=Expected, C=Confirmed)

Flames: Smith (E)- 19-12-2, 2.92 GAA, .895 Save%

Golden Knights: Fleury (E)- 32-19-5, 2.52 GAA, .911 Save%

Team Leaders

Flames: Goals- Gaudreau (30), Points- Gaudreau (84), PIM- Bennett (83), Save%- Rittich (.910)

Golden Knights: Goals- Pacioretty (21), Points- Marchessault (46), PIM- Reaves (60), Save%- Fleury (.911)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Vegas Golden Knights Coverage: Knights On Ice

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 2 – Toronto Maple Leafs 6

Vegas Golden Knights 3 – Vancouver Canucks 0

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Mark Giordano (D): 14G – 48A, 4 points in last 4 games

Vegas Golden Knights

Jon Marchessault (C): 20G – 26A, 4 points in last 5 games

by Mark Parkinson