Flames at Oilers
The Calgary Flames have not come away without at least one point since late December and attempt to continue the trend when they visit the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday for the latest installment of the Battle of Alberta. Calgary is riding a 10-game point streak (7-0-3) but is coming off a winless three-game homestand during which it suffered a trio of 2-1 losses after regulation.
The latest setback came Wednesday, when the Flames squandered a third-period lead against Los Angeles and fell in overtime to barely maintain their grip on third place in the Pacific Division. Edmonton continues a five-game homestand that began with a victory over Vancouver but followed with a 5-0 setback against Buffalo on Tuesday that halted its three-game overall winning streak. The shutout loss ended the four-game point run of Connor McDavid, who collected a goal and five assists to increase his team-leading total to 53 points. The 21-year-old captain ranks second on the club with 15 tallies but has recorded only one in his last 12 contests.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Calgary, Edmonton)
ABOUT THE FLAMES (25-16-7): Sean Monahan scored his team-leading 22nd goal Wednesday, giving him 11 points over his last nine games. The 23-year-old center is well on his way to eclipsing the career high of 31 tallies he set in 2014-15. Johnny Gaudreau has been producing offensively during Calgary's string of success as he has collected 15 of his club-high 56 points over the 10-game span.
ABOUT THE OILERS (21-24-3): Tuesday's defeat also saw Patrick Maroon's three-game goal-scoring streak come to an end. The 29-year-old left wing netted four tallies during the run after going eight contests without scoring. Leon Draisaitl also had been hot offensively prior to the loss to Buffalo, registering a goal and five assists during a four-game point streak.
OVERTIME
1. Oilers LW Milan Lucic is one goal away from becoming the fifth member of the team in double digits but is mired in a 12-game drought, last scoring Dec. 23 versus Montreal.
2. Calgary, which lost its previous two meetings with the Oilers this campaign, is 50-0-3 when ahead after two periods over the last two seasons.
3. Edmonton is second in the league in penalty-killing on the road (86.6 percent) but last overall (71.4) and at home (54.2).