Northwest Division Matchup - Flames at Avalanche

You really only need one sentence to recap the season series between these two Northwest Division rivals, as Colorado has won all 4 meetings by the same 3-2 score. How’s that for consistency? There are obviously numerous storylines that we could touch on, but at the end of the day it’s all about points and Colorado has taken the two every time this season. Calgary will get a shot tonight and one more game later in the season to try to even out the series, but they’re going to have overcome a tough loss and the huge emotional letdown they suffered on Monday night.

Calgary was dealt a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Detroit at the Pengrowth Saddledome on Monday night. Detroit scored with just over a minute left to put the Wings up in a game that had the eighth spot in the Western Conference on the line. The loss dropped the Flames three points behind the Red Wings for the final playoff spot and probably put some Calgary residence’s on suicide watch.

The Colorado Avalanche is probably the last team that Calgary wanted to face after that nut shot. The Avs are not only hot overall, gunning for their fourth straight win, but they’ll be going for their seventh victory in a row over the Flames when the two teams hit the ice from the Pepsi Center tonight.

Calgary was finally able to grab at least a point from the Avalanche the last time they met as their first three games all ended in 3-2 regulation losses. The Flames were probably happy to get a single last time out when they were beaten in a shootout on January 11th in Calgary. Chris Stewart was the thorn in the side of Calgary that night, scoring the game-tying goal and the shootout winner for good measure. There’s a good chance he’ll find the score sheet again tonight as he has posted 10 goals and 11 assists over his last 12 games. That’s what you call hot my friends.

Peter Mueller has been the other guy who has been tearing it up lately. It seems that a change of scenery was exactly what the kid needed to wake from his season long slumber. He has a point in all seven games since being acquired from Phoenix, notching four goals and 11 points in that span. Phoenix fans are probably cursing the TV every night as he had just four goals and 17 points in 54 games with Coyotes before the trade.

"The more chances, the more confident I get," Mueller said. "Colorado gave me that chance."

Colorado is just three points behind Vancouver for first place in the Northwest Division, and the Canucks gave them a window by losing to the Islanders last night in a game they clearly should have won.

Calgary could use all the help they can get as their offense has hit a wall of late, only mustering two goals in its last two games. They haven’t been able to do anything on the power play, which hasn’t produced a goal in the last 13 opportunities. If they can’t figure it out quick, the Flames are going to be on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs. With just 13 games to play and having the Red Wings to catch, tonight’s game against a tough divisional opponent, in their building, is going to go a long way in determining whether the Flames have what it takes this year.