Calgary Flames at New Jersey Devils
5 p.m., Prudential Center; TV: Sportsnet West; Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan
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THE BIG MATCHUP
Flames LW Curtis Lazar vs. Devils D Will Butcher
It seems like Curtis Lazar has finally gained some traction, skating well in his 14th straight game on Tuesday. The 23-year-old hasn’t been effective or present on the scoresheet, but he had five hits against the Chicago Blackhawks and arguably played one of his better games with the Flames. He could, perhaps, take advantage of Will Butcher with his speed. The young Devils defenceman and 2017 Hobey Baker winner is an up-and-coming star, leading the NHL’s rookie defenceman in scoring.
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FIVE STORYLINES FOR THE GAME
1. POWERPLAY OUTAGE
The Flames went 0-for-4 against the Blackhawks in Tuesday’s 3-2 win, but, perhaps most alarmingly, was a five-on-three opportunity that failed to generate a single shot. In fact, the Flames only have one five-on-three goal all season. But their powerplay, in general, has struggled of late. In the last six games, the Flames have only scored once on their man-advantage — a one-for-19 slump. “You have to at least put a shot on net,” said Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan. “We had a few chances, but we just have to convert.”
2. LACK IS BACK
Timing is everything. The Flames traded netminder Eddie Lack to the Devils on Dec. 30 in exchange for defenceman Dalton Prout. Lack’s last appearance with the Flames was memorable — when he allowed five goals on 15 shots in an 8-2 loss at the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 15. Fast forward to Monday’s practice at the Prudential Center when he was recalled to back-up Keith Kinkaid, who has temporarily taken over for an injured Cory Schneider. Lack made his Devils debut stopping 11-of-12 shots in Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the host Ottawa Senators. The Devils didn’t practise on Wednesday, but Lack, of course, could be tabbed to start against his former team Thursday.
3. CRACK DOWN ON BURROWS
Senators forward Alex Burrows was suspended 10 games on Wednesday after an incident with Devils LW Taylor Hall that occurred in Tuesday’s 5-3 Devils loss to the Senators. The decision came down after an afternoon phone conference with the NHL’s player safety department. After absorbing a clean hit from Hall, Burrows retaliated with a cross-check on the former Edmonton Oilers winger and went after him again and took him down to the ice. Then, Burrows began landing punches and delivered a few knees to the head. Hall told the local media: “I thought it was a clean hit. He was losing his mind, and I think he kneed me in the back of the head at one point. He has a bit of a reputation for player safety stuff. I think he’s cleaned it up a lot in the recent past. But that didn’t feel great when he was rabbit-punching me there.”
4. THIS N’ THAT
Flames G Mike Smith is among the best goalies in the NHL on the road. His sparkling stat line? A 10-3-3 record, a 1.84 goals-against average and a .948 save percentage on road. He’s 22-15-6 overall this season … Heading into Wednesday’s action, Flames C Sean Monahan sat in a three-way tie with Auston Matthews and Brock Boeser for ninth in the NHL with 25 goals scored … Flames LW Johnny Gaudreau’s 45 assists were second in the NHL to Jakub Voracek’s 52 before Wednesday … Gaudreau was sitting tied with Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon for fifth with 61 points … The Flames’ 14-5-5 road record was the fourth-best in the NHL heading into Wednesday’s action. Their five regulation losses was tied with the Boston Bruins for the best in the NHL … Thursday is Flames RW Michael Frolik’s 700th game … Flames blueliners Michael Stone (396 GP) and Dougie Hamilton (394 GP) are approaching the 400-club while Travis Hamonic needs even more to hit 500.
5. ABOUT THE DEVILS
Heading into Wednesday’s action, the Devils (27-17-8) were sitting third in the Metropolitan Division … The Devils are 5-5-0 in their last 10 and saw their three-game winning streak end with the loss to the Senators … Devils RW Jimmy Hayes is on an American Hockey League conditioning assignment in Binghamton … Hall played his 500th NHL game Tuesday … Rookie Butcher leads all NHL rookie defenceman with two goals and 27 assists in 52 games heading into Wednesday’s action. Sixteen of those points have come on the power play … According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Devils could become the NHL team that uses the fewest Canadian players during a single season. So far, they’ve played six Canadians. The fewest was the 2014-15 Detroit Red Wings, who used seven.
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FLAMES GAMEDAY LINES
Johnny Gaudreau-Sean Monahan-Micheal Ferland
Matthew Tkachuk-Mikael Backlund-Michael Frolik
Sam Bennett-Mark Jankowski-Troy Brouwer
Curtis Lazar-Matt Stajan-Garnet Hathaway
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Mark Giordano-Dougie Hamilton
TJ Brodie-Travis Hamonic
Brett Kulak-Michael Stone
GOALIES
Mike Smith
David Rittich
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DEVILS GAMEDAY LINES
Taylor Hall-Nico Hischier-Jesper Bratt
Miles Wood-Pavel Zacha-Kyle Palmieri
Blake Coleman-Travis Zajac-Stefan Noesen
Brian Boyle-Drew Stafford
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Andy Greene-Sami Vatanen
John Moore-Damon Severson
Will Butcher-Ben Lovejoy
Mirco Mueller
GOALIES
Keith Kinkaid
Eddie Lack
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SPECIAL TEAMS (prior to Wednesday’s action)
POWER PLAY
FLAMES: 16.9% (T-23rd)
DEVILS: 20.5% (14th)
PENALTY KILL
FLAMES: 79.9% (18th)
DEVILS: 81.8% (12th)
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SICK BAY
FLAMES
LW Kris Versteeg (hip)
DEVILS
F Marcus Johansson (concussion), F Brian Gibbons (broken thumb), G Cory Schneider (groin injury)
— Kristen Anderson