Flames at Devils
February shapes up as a potential make-or-break month for the Calgary Flames, who face a brutal stretch with nine of their next 12 games away from home as they contend for a playoff slot in the congested Western Conference. The Flames were victorious in the opener of a six-game road trip and look to continue the momentum at the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.
Calgary completed a home-and-home sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks with a 3-2 victory on Tuesday, posting its first victory in the Windy City since March 2008 to improve to a Western Conference-best 14-5-5 on the road. "We found a way to get a win and on the road to start a trip, that’s big," goaltender Mike Smith said. "We want to take that momentum into Jersey and keep rolling.” There's a chance the Flames could see a familiar face in goaltender Eddie Lack, who was traded to New Jersey at the end of December and turned aside 11 of 12 shots in relief in his Devils debut on Tuesday. New Jersey, which is one point behind Pittsburgh for second place in the Metropolitan Division with three games in hand, has lost eight of 10 (2-5-3) to the Flames following a 5-4 shootout loss at Calgary on Nov. 5.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Calgary), MSG Plus (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE FLAMES (27-18-8): Leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau continues to be an assist machine, boosting his season total to 45 by setting up a pair of goals in Chicago. The New Jersey native, who is three assists shy of his career-high 48 set in 2015-16, has already matched last season's point total of 61 after registering four goals and 18 assists over the past 16 games. Special teams continue to be a sore spot for Calgary, which over the past six games is 1-for-19 on the power play while surrendering five goals while short-handed.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (27-17-8): Red-hot Taylor Hall celebrated his 500th NHL game by scoring on the power play against the Senators, leaving him one goal short of reaching 20 for the sixth time in his eight seasons. Hall has seven goals and nine assists during his 11-game point streak to increase his season total to 52, one fewer than he collected in his first year with New Jersey. With starter Cory Schneider still sidelined and Keith Kinkaid yanked in Tuesday's 5-3 loss at Ottawa, Lack could be in net against his former teammates.
OVERTIME
1. Flames C Sean Monahan has game-winning goals in back-to-back contests, giving him an NHL-best nine for the season.
2. Devils F Kyle Palmieri has a goal and an assist in three of his last four games.
3. Calgary is riding a six-game point streak (5-0-1) away from home.