Blue Jackets at Flames
The Calgary Flames look to ride the momentum of a successful five-game road trip (3-1-1) into the opener of a five-game homestand against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday. The Flames capped their trek with a 3-0 victory over Florida on Sunday, matching the same score of their previous encounter in Columbus on Nov. 2.
Matthew Tkachuk scored in the first meeting with the Blue Jackets and has 18 (six goals, 12 assists) of his team co-leading 56 points in his last 17 games for Calgary, which is clinging to third place in the congested Pacific Division. "Each game is crucial for us and this is the time to get on a roll," the 22-year-old Tkachuk said on Tuesday. "The first game after the road trip is always the hardest. If we can stick to our game and set the tone, it'll be crucial moving forward to help us go on a run and string more together." The Blue Jackets hope they took the first step in turning around their recent fortunes, as they scored four times in the third period of a 5-3 victory versus Vancouver on Sunday to mark just their second win in 12 games (2-5-5). "We still have some struggles as far as our energy," Columbus coach John Tortorella said, "but to win a game before we go on a trip and the way we did it, hopefully we'll get some energy off it."
TIME: 8:30 p.m. ET. TV: FS Ohio, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet West
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (32-21-14): Pressed into duty last week against Ottawa, Joonas Korpisalo answered a four-goal performance in a 5-0 rout by Minnesota with a 36-save effort versus the Canucks to help strengthen Columbus' tenuous grasp on the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. While Korpisalo is expected to get the nod against Calgary, fellow goaltender Elvis Merzlikins was on the ice Tuesday to mark his first time skating with the team since exiting last week's game versus the Senators with a concussion. Zach Werenski has six points in his last eight games, including three goals to become the first defenseman to record at least 20 this season.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (34-26-7): Mikael Backlund was a bit bummed after seeing his six-game point streak come to an end on Sunday, but the 30-year-old Swede was excited for what's on the horizon as Calgary attempts to strengthen its bid toward the playoffs. "It's a fun time of year playing strong teams in a short span this late in the season," Backlund said on Tuesday. "... I think if we can bring the simplicity of our game that we had on the road and translate it here back on home ice, we'll be in a good spot." Sean Monahan, who scored in the first meeting with Columbus, has five goals and an assist in his last seven games overall.
OVERTIME
1. Columbus RW Oliver Bjorkstrand, who leads the team in goals (21) and game-winning goals (five), is expected to be sidelined eight-to-10 weeks after undergoing ankle surgery.
2. Flames G David Rittich, who is just 9-6-3 at home this season, stopped all 43 shots he faced in the first meeting with the Blue Jackets.
3. Columbus RW Josh Anderson will be sidelined four-to-six months after undergoing surgery to repair his left shoulder.