The Calgary Flames will head to Las Vegas to face the Golden Knights in a Saturday night NHL matchup. This game comes on the heels of their recent clash, where Calgary fell to Vegas despite a strong start, allowing four unanswered goals after taking a 2-0 lead in the first period.
The Flames have struggled in their recent games, consistently losing leads they build early. Their third-period collapses have become a trend, marking a frustrating start to the season with a record of 1-4-0. In their last game against Utah, the Flames experienced a shift as their struggles began in the second period instead.
Despite these setbacks, the Flames managed to match their season-high in shots on goal against the Golden Knights, recording 29 attempts. However, they also faced significant pressure, allowing a staggering 69 shots at their net during that matchup. This statistic underscores a pattern of defensive challenges for Calgary.
The Flames have seen themselves shorthanded frequently, ranking among the top teams in the league with 20 penalty kills, while the Golden Knights have been on the penalty kill just 12 times. This disparity could play a critical role in the game dynamics.
Pavel Dorofeyev from the Golden Knights has been a standout performer, tied for the league lead in power play goals and overall goals scored. Meanwhile, Jack Eichel, following his significant contract extension, is off to a stellar start, leading with 11 points in just five games. Mark Stone has also been instrumental, leading the league in assists.
Defensively, the Golden Knights have been impressive. The pairings of Jeremy Lauzon-Kaeden Korczak and Brayden McNabb-Shea Theodore rank highly in Expected Goals Against, making them formidable opponents on the ice.
One potential opening for the Flames could be exploiting the struggles of Vegas goalie Adin Hill, who has had a rocky start to the season. In a previous game against the Flames, he allowed two goals on just 10 shots before being replaced.
Adding to Calgary’s hopes is the return of Jonathan Huberdeau, whose presence could prove vital as they look to end their current losing streak.
As they prepare to face the Golden Knights, the Flames understand the importance of maintaining leads and closing out games, a task that will be challenging on the road in Vegas. Confidence in their early scoring must translate into resilience throughout the game to secure a much-needed victory.