NHL Game of the Night - Red Wings at Flames

In terms of big regular season games, tonight’s matchup between the Detroit Red Wings and the Calgary Flames is as big as it gets so far this season.

On the line is the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, with Detroit just one point ahead of the Flames heading into tonight’s showdown from the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary.

No, this isn’t déjà vu. Rather, this is the second straight week the Flames head into a big game with Detroit just behind the Red Wings for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

These clubs met six days ago, with the Calgary Flames rallying for a huge win in Detroit to temporarily overtake the Red Wings. Detroit will obviously be looking to return the favour of spoiling a big win on home ice.

Detroit has won two games since their stumble against the Flames, while Calgary is one night removed from a 3-1 loss in Vancouver. The Flames were badly outplayed in the first period on Sunday night but finished strong and should be able to carry some momentum from that into tonight’s contest.

For Detroit, this will be the opener of a three-game swing of Western Canada but their biggest in terms of the playoff picture as this one is the all important four point swing.

In their game last Tuesday, the Flames rallied back from an early deficit with a big third period to overcome the Wings. Rene Bourque was the offensive catalyst that spark the comeback as he assisted on the tying goal before putting home the eventual game-winner with 12:44 to play.

Christopher Higgins scored his first as a flame into an empty net, sealing the huge two points for Calgary.

With the strong week, Detroit was able to leapfrog Calgary for the eighth spot thanks to a 3-2 overtime victory on Saturday, and a 3-1 loss in Vancouver by the Flames.

This is going to be the most intriguing and exciting race heading down the stretch as both clubs have been playing good hockey and neither will be giving an inch.

Knowing the Red Wings had moved past them in the standings, the Flames carried a four-game winning streak into Vancouver on Sunday. However, Calgary yielded three first-period goals and never recovered in the two-tally deficit.

• Under is 8-2-3 in the last 13 meetings in Calgary.
• Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
• Red Wings are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings.
• Road team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
• Underdog is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.

As you can see by the trends, it has been the road team that has had the most success lately. Calgary won both meetings in Detroit this season and the Red Wings took their only meeting in Calgary so far this season by a 3-1 score back on Halloween.

This will be the final meeting of the season, and you know both teams will be looking to land the final blow as they duke it out for that final playoff spot. With Calgary actually going off as the -105 home underdog, lets break the trends and go with the Flames in this one.

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