The Calgary Flames (36-27-12, fourth in the Pacific
Division, five points away from the second wild-card spot) will host the Vegas
Golden Knights (45-22-8, first in the Pacific Division, 79.9% to win Division).

This will be the third of four meetings between the two
teams. Vegas dominated both previous matchups

This will be a big test for the Flames who are coming off a comfortable and a morale-lifting 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.
While that was a matchup the Flames were expected to win, the Knights are a completely different beast. The Knights have already locked in their playoff
spot, and are looking to clinch the Pacific division title. They have tremendous
offensive power with the likes of Mark Stone, Conn Smythe Trophy candidate Jack Eichel and two-way defenseman Shea Theodore. This Vegas team comes into Thursday
with the best power play percentage overall AND in the last 30 days. Talk about pressure…

But let’s think positive: A win for the home side will be a MASSIVE game-changer.

And it can happen. This season, the Flames have registered wins against teams like Winnipeg and Washington, the two teams who are on their way to owning the best records in their respective conferences. 

There is plenty to be optimistic about in this game.

HEAD 2 HEAD

Based on both prior games this season, the Calgary Flames
have the eighth-worst save percentage against the Vegas Golden Knights at even-strength
situations. While the Flames did go 5-of-6 (83.33%) on the PK, Dan Vladar (who was
the goalie in both those games) will be rested according to pre-game reports to
make way for Dustin Wolf to be in goal. We’ve only had good things to say about
him.

But no matter who is the goalie, the Knights offense love
dishing shots on them as  Vegas unloaded Vladar with 37.5 shots per game, the
third-most shots on goal to any team all season.

On the other side, the Flames having been shutout in both
games against the Knights. In fact, they are the ONLY team in the league to
have yet to score against Vegas.

It doesn’t take much to figure out that if there is a “prove
it” game for the Flames offense to break out in, this is that game. Especially,
for their power play unit…. and especially for a team that wants to prove that they
belong in the playoff picture.

But it might be an uphill battle considering that Calgary has
dispensed only 23.5 shots on goal per game to the Knights, the second-worst to
any team this season.

TALE OF THE TAPE (SKATERS)

TALE OF THE TAPE (GOALIES)

PLAYOFF ODDS

With the Flames the lone team in this game looking to clinch a playoff spot, the following chart shows how those odds will pan out depending on the result:

Calling this a tough game is definitely an understatement, and prior history suggests the Knights probably have marked this as a win. Calgary faithful need to pack the Saddledome and really get loud and rally the Flames to squeeze out a W.

Read the full article here