Calgary Flames Predictions and Preview of the Week February 13-19
Monday February 13th – ARI @ CGY
The Arizona Coyotes right now are one of the two teams in the Western Conference who aren’t quite still in the running for a playoff spot. Every other team right now is fair game.
These two teams have already seen each other three other times this season where the Calgary Flames won all three matchups. They weren’t all easy, though. The Coyotes definitely made them work for those points.
The Flames won in OT 2-1 twice in the first two meetings and won 4-2 in an exciting New Years Eve day win to end off their year on a high note.
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In their three meetings between the two, the Flames are 3/11 on the PP and have killed off all ten penalties they have faced.
The Coyotes are coming off an exciting 4-3 OT win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. They’ve still lost three of their last five games. The Flames on the other hand have won four of their last five. And in that one loss, they still battled hard and played an overall good game.
Based on stats alone, the Calgary Flames have the upper-hand. They have the edge on the powerplay, the penalty-kill, goals-for, goals-against, and they’re higher in the standings. The Flames are battling for a playoff spot right now as well, so they’ll be hungry for a win. And they’ve won against this team three times already this season.
Players to watch on the Coyotes
- Martin Hanzal: Coming off a two-goal game against the Penguins and had a goal in the New Years Eve showdown against the Flames.
- Oliver Ekman-Larsson: Coming off a two-point game and has four points in his last four games. Second on the team for points and has 16 powerplay points (first on the team). I also have him in both of my pools so I wouldn’t mind if he maybe got a point (sorry Flames fans).
Players to watch on the Flames
- Sean Monahan: You should know why since I can’t stop talking about it, but he’s one goal away from 100 career goals. Would set a franchise record for youngest Flame to ever reach 100 goals.
- Michael Frolik: Has four points against the Coyotes this season, one being a game-winning goal in overtime. Also had a goal in the Flames’ last game against the Pens.
If the Flames top line can contribute like they have been lately, the Flames can walk out of this game with two points. And maybe we can do it in regulation this time, hey guys?
Wednesday February 15th – PHI @ CGY
The Calgary Flames will welcome the Philadelphia Flyers at the Dome before they take off on their road trip. These teams will meet for the second time this season.
In the first matchup, the Flyers won 5-3 in a dominating second period. The Flames managed to score the first goal, but after four unanswered by the Flyers, the they were up 4-1 heading into the final 20 minutes. The Flames managed to score twice in the third period, but it still wasn’t enough.
In that game, the Flames actually managed to score two shorthanded goals and were 1/1 on the PP. They also let in just one PP goal against on six opportunities.
The Flyers have allowed the second most shorthanded goals against in the league with eight.
Related Story: Sean Monahan is Having an Incredible 2017 So Far
The Flyers are in the same spot as the Flames, with each team currently battling for a playoff spot. Both teams are one spot out of a playoff spot right now. This game will definitely be an intense game with probably a lot of fighting.
Both teams are very similar when it comes to their special teams and their position in the standings, so this game is hard to call on who will come out with the extra points.
The Flyers are coming off of a 2-1 win against the San Jose Sharks, but they’ve lost three of their last five games and two of those losses were shutouts.
Players to watch on the Flyers
- Wayne Simmonds: Has two goals in his last two games, one coming on the PP. Has 18 PPP and 11 PPG. Also has three game-winning goals. Also scored against the Flames in their last matchup.
- Jakub Voracek: Had a goal and an assist against the Flames in their last matchup, one coming on the PP. Is currently leading the team in points with 47 and has 18 PPP.
Players to watch on the Flames
- Matthew Tkachuk: Has three points in his last two games and doesn’t seem to like the Flyers too much. Had a goal in their last meeting with the Flyers and got into a few fights. Had a misconduct that game, so you know he’s going to come out firing.
Since these two teams match up quite evenly, if the Flames can keep their discipline in check and not get 34 PIM, they can keep their special teams in check as well and potentially walk out with two points.
Saturday February 18th – CGY @ VAN
The Calgary Flames will begin their five-game road trip in BC to face off the Vancouver Canucks in a Hockey Night in Canada match. This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams. The Canucks have won two of those meetings, one coming in a shootout, so the Flames still have three points against them.
The Canucks in the three games have just one PPG on nine PP opportunities while the Flames have two PPG on 10 PP opportunities. In the Western Conference, the Flames and Canucks are almost neck and neck. While the Canucks do have three points less than the Flames, but almost any team in the west is fair game right now.
The Canucks have lost four of their last six going against the Flames winning four of their last five, but it’s still anybody’s game. The Canucks are coming off of a 4-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres. They also shutout one of the best teams in the league this season, the Columbus Blue Jackets just three games ago.
The Flames have the edge in basically every stat except for giveaways. Which they’ve definitely been improving on in the last few weeks. If they can have better control of the puck and have the top line contribute, I’m confident they can win this game.
But again, a game with the Canucks and the Flames is always a fun game that is jam-packed with action.
Players to watch on the Canucks
- Bo Horvat: Has four points in his last two games and five in his last four. Had a goal and an assist over the Sabres, the goal coming on the PP. Is currently leading the team with 38 points and 17 goals.
- Markus Granlund: Is currently on a four-game point streak. Had two goals and one assist against the Flames in their last meeting because he’s a traitor (jokes) (sort of).
Players to watch on the Flames
- Michael Frolik: Had a two-goal game last time these two teams met. Also had a goal in his last game which was his first goal in his last eight games.
- Mark Giordano: Had two goals in the game where the Flames won 4-2, one coming on the PP, one being a shorthanded goal.
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This one is also tough to call. If the Calgary Flames can take advantage of their recent momentum and have the top line contribute, they can hopefully get those two extra points. This will be the last meeting between these two teams, and they’re both battling for basically that last wild card spot. So you know this game will have lots of action and most likely lots of fights. But probably not a line-brawl two seconds into the game.
Next: Potential Playoff Scenario - Facing the Minnesota Wild
There you have it! The preview for this week. If the Flames can come out with four points, that’ll be a good week. But hopefully they can come out with at least five and be in a more comfortable position than they’re currently in.