After consecutive losses on home soil the Calgary Flames are hitting the road to take on the Colorado Avalanche.
The Avs started the season terribly - just like the Flames - but have been getting better results of late having won six of their last 10 and recorded a point in eight of them; although their underlying numbers suggest the current streak won't continue.
Still, they will be a tough test for the Flames as a) even with their faults the Avs have a lot of game breaking talent and; b) the Flames have been terrible away from home ice (5-11-2) this season.
Due to the ineptitude of Pacific Division teams the Flames are only two points out of a playoff spot. In saying that divisional foes will surely pick it up at some point and the Flames will be left in the dust if they can't win on the road; especially against non-playoff teams.
Tonight would be a good place to start; especially given they have four home games in a row after this contest and could really make some noise.
LINEUPS Gaudreau - Monahan - Colborne Bennett - Granlund - Hudler Ferland - Backlund - Jones Bouma - Stajan - Jooris
Giordano - Brodie Russell - Hamilton Smid - Wideman
Ramo
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Landeskog - Soderberg - Comeau Martinsen - Mitchell - Duchene Tanguay - Mackinnon - Iginla McLeod - Grigorenko - Skille
Beauchemin - Johnson Holden - Barrie Gormley - Redmond
Varlamov
NOTES 1) With Tanguay - Mackinnon - Iginla on the ice at full-strength the Avs get just a 42% share of the shot attempts and a 40% share of the scoring chances. The sample size isn't huge (74 minutes) but it's less than surprising that unit struggles on the defensive side of the puck. If I'm Bob Hartley I get the Gaudreau line out there against them every chance I get. Take advantage of their deficiencies.
2) The Flames are in a mini-scoring slump as they've found twine just once in the last two games. I expect they'll be able to get going against a poor defensive team in the Avalanche but a quality outing from Karri Ramo certainly wouldn't hurt their chances.
3) Calgary ranks last in the league killing off just 73.9% of their penalties. Colorado has a top-10 power play running at better than 20%. The Flames can't afford to parade to the box and make it easy on the Avs.
The game is at 10:00 eastern and can be seen on CBC, TVA Sports, ALT2.
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