Preview: Calgary Flames vs Vegas Golden Knights, 3/8/20 (70/82): Objects in Mirror are Closer than they Appear

Calgary Flames vs Arizona Coyotes, 5 PM MT,

Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary AB

TV: Sportsnet, Radio: SN960

Calgary Flames (36-26-7, 79 Points) - Vegas Golden Knights (37-24-8, 82 Points)

Thanks to a three game winning streak and going 5-1-1 in their last seven games, the Flames have managed to move back within striking distance of the Golden Knights. The Knights have been red hot themselves, despite losing two of their past three games, they had previously won eight straight.

Vegas fell to second in the Pacific last night due to the Edmonton Oilers defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets and holding the tie breaker. The Knights have been solid down the stretch this year after an uninspiring start and were bolstered by some major deadline acquisitions. They sent two 2nd round picks to Los Angeles for Alec Martinez and sent Malcolm Subban and a 2nd to Chicago for Robin Lehner. In doing so they addressed two of their bigger weaknesses as goaltending hadn’t been great this year with Marc-Andre Fleury.

The Flames come into the contest having won three straight games, including two in a row to start this homestand. Given their recent home struggles, it has been reassuring to see them have both a come-from-behind victory along with the wire-to-wire victory over Arizona on Friday. T.J. Brodie has been leading the way during the winning streak, scoring a goal in all three games which is a career-long goal streak for him. Cam Talbot has been the goalie in all three victories so it wouldn’t be too surprising to see again tongiht.

This is the third head-to-head meeting of the season between the teams with Vegas having taken the previous two, both in Vegas. Neither game was close either, with the scores being 6-2 and 6-0. Just as the Flames have struggled in Vegas (0-6), the Knights have struggled in Calgary, winning just one of their four all-time games there. These teams also meet in the penultimate game of the season in Calgary on April 2.

Starting Goalies

Flames: Talbot (E) 12-10-1, 2.63 GAA, .919 SV%

Knights: Fleury (E) 26-16-5, 2.79 GAA, .905 SV%

Players to Watch Today

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Flames: Matthew Tkachuk (F) - I don’t have a lot of actual reasoning behind it but I just feel he’s due for a big game today after having three assists against the Coyotes. He seems to elevate his game against rivals, so I’m expecting a lot today.

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Vegas: Max Pacioretty (F) - Pacioretty has returned to his form from his Montreal years, already sitting at 31 goals and 65 points on the season. His career high is 67 points which he looks like a lock to surpass, just hopefully not today.