1:36 pm
December 15

Flames @ Wild

Who will WIN this matchup?

Calgary Flames (20-10-2)

@ Minnesota Wild (17-12-2)

 

Starting Goalies:

David Rittich (CGY): Confirmed

Devan Dubnyk (MIN): Unconfirmed

 

Current odds:

Calgary Flames: (+105)

Minnesota Wild: (-125)

 

• Emotions could be running high when the Calgary Flames kick off a three-game road trip with a visit to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday afternoon — the second matchup between the clubs in 10 days. The Wild dropped a 2-0 decision in that last meeting and also lost captain Mikko Koivu to injury when he was the recipient of a knee-on-knee hit by Flames captain Mark Giordano. Koivu is a game-time decision to rejoin the lineup Saturday after sitting out the last three contests, but he quelled the notion of seeking payback against Giordano, who was suspended two games for the hit.

• Giordano returned to the lineup with a flourish, scoring a goal and collecting a pair of assists by setting up the tying and winning tallies in Calgary’s stunning 6-5 overtime win over visiting Philadelphia on Wednesday night. Johnny Gaudreau provided the decisive tally 35 seconds into overtime to cap a three-point night after Calgary erased a two-goal deficit in the final two minutes of regulation, forcing the extra session on Sean Monahan’s second tally of the game. The Flames improved to 6-1-0 in their last seven games, amassing 29 goals in the six victories.

• If Koivu does return, he could be skating on a different line due to the success of Zach Parise, Nino Niederreiter and Charlie Coyle, who have erupted in lopsided wins over Montreal (7-1) and Florida (5-1) in the past two games. The line has combined for six goals and 11 points in the two romps, led by Niederreiter with three tallies and Parise with five points. “We’re having fun, they’re buzzing we’re moving our feet, we’re talking all the time and we’re getting the results right now,” Parise said. “I think the offensive zone (is) where we are supporting each other really well.”

• Gaudreau has five goals and 11 assists in the last nine games.

• Parise has 13 goals and 21 points in 22 games versus the Flames.

• Calgary has five players with at least 32 points.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Calgary Flames
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