Game Preview: Flames vs. Stars

With the playoffs approaching, the Calgary Flames‘ schedule is littered with Western Conference foes. Saturday’s game sees the Dallas Stars (40-29-5) hosting the Flames (34-26-15) at the American Airlines Centre in Dallas. Here’s a few notes on the matchup, and both teams of late. The season series between the two teams is tied at 1, with the Stars having won their last meeting on March 5th.

Dallas is coming off a strong stretch of games, having gone 7-3 in their last ten. They’re holding onto 8th place overall in the Western Conference. Dallas is still in contention for the 3rd seed, as they are only one point behind the division leading Los Angeles Kings, as well as the 2nd place Phoenix Coyotes, who’ve played one more game than the Kings. The Stars are a very average team: in the middle of the pack both offensively and defensively, with a solid goaltender in Kari Lehtonen. He has very quietly become what the former Atlanta Thrashers hoped he would: a reliable NHL starter.

With the season’s end looming, the Flames picked a bad time to hit a losing streak, having lost their last three games, even if they picked up some overtime points in the losses. Though Calgary is only three points out of a playoff position, it’s a crowded group on the playoff periphery, and the Flames will need a strong finish to secure their standing. Losing as they have the last few games- especially against teams the Columbus Blue Jackets and Edmonton Oilers, teams the Flames should reasonably expect to beat- isn’t going to do much for their playoff chances. A return to form from a recently cold Olli Jokinen– as well as a healthy Alex Tanguay– would improve their odds.

After today’s game, the Flames invite the Stars back to the Saddledome for a return date on Monday. With the Stars being one of the teams close to them in the standings, the Flames would benefit greatly from taking both games in the home-and-home set (and please, for the love of whatever deity you like, none of this overtime crap, gents).

Go Flames Go!