Red Wings at Flames
THE STORY: The Detroit Red Wings and Calgary Flames face two
different battles as they come out of the All-Star break with a meeting
Tuesday in Alberta. The Flames are in a three-way tie for 10th in the
Western Conference, three points out of playoff position. The Red Wings
lead the NHL with 67 points, but the top four teams in their Central
Division are separated by three points. With 19 of its last 32 games at
home, Calgary (13-7-2 at the Scotiabank Saddledome) has a legitimate
shot to reach the postseason for the first time in three years. With no
apparent weaknesses except a sub-.500 record on the road, the Red Wings
are looking like a team more than capable of winning their second
Stanley Cup in five years. The Flames have won two of three meetings
this season, including the last encounter 3-2 on Dec. 22 in Calgary.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Detroit Plus, SNET-West (Calgary)
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (33-16-1): Defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom missed
Wednesday’s 7-2 loss at Montreal with the flu, snapping his consecutive
game streak at 213. Lidstrom, 41, also requested not to be picked for
the All-Star Game, which would have been his 12th. Detroit is 13-14-0
on the road as it begins a four-game trip through Western Canada and
Phoenix. Goaltender Jimmy Howard is 6-3-0, 2.66, .905 in his career
against the Flames.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (23-21-6): Calgary
looked to the future during the break when it traded center Brendan
Morrison, 36, to Chicago for American Hockey League All-Star defenseman
Brian Connelly. The 25-year-old will report to Abbotsford of the AHL.
Flames fans have a chance to say goodbye to Morrison when Chicago comes
to town Friday. Left wing Alex Tanguay returned for last Tuesday’s 1-0
loss to San Jose after missing 15 games with a neck injury.
OVERTIME:
1. One of Detroit’s three home losses was to Calgary 4-1 on Nov. 3.
2. The Red Wings have won seven straight after scoring two or fewer goals in their previous game.