Calgary Flames

After a dreadful weekend where the Flames lost to the 29th and 30th place teams, netting just one of a four possible points, the Flames season lays on the line tonight as they head into Colorado. The Flames are chasing the Avalanche for the elusive 8th and final playoff spot, trailing them by a measly two points with a game in hand. This will be the fifth of six meetings between the clubs as the Flames have dominated the Avalanche, not only this season with four victories, but since early in the 2010-11 season. The Avalanche hasn’t beaten the Flames since Oct. 28th, 2010 as the Flames look for the 10th consecutive victory. This is not just an important game for these teams but also in the West as two points also separate, 3rd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th place. All six of those teams are in action tonight, so it should make an exciting night of hockey.

It doesn’t get any closer than it is now in the Western Conference. Even with the Flames huge overtime victory against the Sharks on Tuesday, the Flames stayed in 10th place, in a three way tie for 9th place with the Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings. The Coyotes come into Calgary for the 4th and final meeting against the Flames after a big 5-4 victory over the Canucks last night in Vancouver. Since these two teams last met on Mar. 1st, the teams have once again gone in the opposite direction. At the time, Phoenix was coming off an unbelievable month of February where they went 11-0-1, while the Flames were on a 4-game losing streak. Since then, the Flames used that victory to go on their current 5-1-1 streak, while the Coyotes won just their second game in their past 8 last night in Vancouver. The two teams now sit just 3 points apart heading into this crucial four-point game.

Some of the Flames best play has come against the Sharks this season and they will look to continue that as they host the Sharks in the fourth and final meeting of the season. The Sharks hold a 2-1 series lead but every game has been decided by one goal with two games needing extra time. The Flames have had a great month of March so far with a 4-1-1 record and even with all the injuries up front, have found their groove offensively, averaging 4.5 goals per game this month. The Sharks on the other hand recorded their first victory in 6 games last night, defeating the Oilers in Edmonton, 3-2. The Flames have done a good job this month taking advantage of struggling teams as they hope to catch the Sharks on the wrong foot tonight.

Tonight features the first match-up since Mar. 31, 1996 between the Flames and the Winnipeg Jets. Both teams are in fierce playoff battles in their respective conferences and need every point they can get down the stretch. The Flames haven’t played since Tuesday and better have enjoyed the two days off as the rest of the month is crazy busy with 13 games in the next 23 days. The Jets on the other hand will finish off a back-to-back tonight as they went down in defeat, 3-2 to the Canucks last night in Vancouver.