Golden Knights at Flames
The Calgary Flames are among five teams from the Pacific Division battling for playoff slots in the tightly bunched Western Conference, but suddenly find themselves within striking distance of first place. Winners of three in a row, the Flames have a chance to inch closer to the division lead when they host the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night.
Calgary has won the first two on its five-game homestand and drew within three points of first place when the Golden Knights were blanked in Winnipeg on Friday night. "Sunday's going to be the biggest one of the year by far," Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk told reporters after Friday's 3-2 victory over Arizona. "So we're looking forward to it." However, Vegas has won seven of 10 meetings overall between the clubs and dominated the season series against the Flames, erupting for 12 goals in a pair of lopsided victories at home. "It's hard to create desperation," coach Peter DeBoer told the media after the Golden Knights were shellacked by the Jets for only their second defeat in 11 games. "I don't know if we feel maybe we don't (need every point), which would be a mistake on our part."
TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, Sportsnet
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (37-24-8): Robin Lehner allowed a goal on the very first shot he saw in a Vegas uniform after he was acquired from Chicago at the trade deadline, but he has been nearly perfect since, turning aside 59 of the next 60 shots to win both starts. Lehner, who is coming off a shutout of New Jersey on Tuesday, owns a pair of victories over the Flames in Calgary this season while with the Blackhawks, although he yielded seven goals. Max Pacioretty has a goal and four points in two wins over Calgary this season.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (36-26-7): Tkachuk entered the All-Star break mired in a 10-game goal drought while failing to find the scoresheet in five consecutive games, but the fourth-year forward has elevated his play since the layoff. Tkachuk set up all three goals in Friday's victory to give him 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) over his last 19 games to move past Johnny Gaudreau for the team lead with 60. Gaudreau, who extended his point streak to four games with a power-play tally, has three goals and eight points in 10 games versus Vegas.
OVERTIME
1. Vegas has surrendered 15 power-play goals in 17 games since the All-Star break.
2. Flames C Mikael Backlund boasts six goals and as many assists in the past eight games.
3. Golden Knights C Paul Stastny has one goal in his last 14 games, but scored in each meeting versus Calgary this season.