Flames hope to ignite scuffling snipers
Special teams will be in the spotlight when the Flames and Stars tangle on Wednesday.
Dallas (39-31-6) owns an elite penalty kill, which will provide a test for a floundering Calgary (4722-7) power play.
The Flames have gone completely cold with the man-advantage recently: 0-for-18 in their last seven games, including an 0-for-4 showing Monday against the Los Angeles Kings.
The Stars are stingy when they’re down a man, though. They’ve killed off 82 per cent of their penalties, fifth best in the NHL this season.
Here are five things to watch for when Calgary hosts Dallas Wednesday at the Scotiabank Saddledome:
1 Ch-ch-ch-changes
The Flames could have a different look against Dallas. At Tuesday’s practice, head coach Bill Peters split up the first line of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm. If the team sticks with that plan Wednesday, it will be the first time all three have been healthy and playing on different lines this season. The trio has been slumping the last month. With the Flames in control of their destiny and leading the pack in the West Division, Peters has the luxury of tinkering.
2 Explosive matchup
The last two players to record six points in a regular season NHL game? That would be the Flames’ Gaudreau and the Stars’ Jamie Benn. Gaudreau pulled it off in mid-march when he potted three goals and added three assists against New Jersey. Benn, meanwhile, did it in 2013 against the Flames.
3 Last time around
The Stars got the best of the Flames in their last meeting with goaltenders Ben Bishop and Anton Khudobin combining to make 24 saves en route to a 2-0 shutout win on Dec. 18. The Flames would go almost three months without getting blanked again, but were kept off the scoreboard March 7 against the Arizona Coyotes and again in their 3-0 loss Monday to the Los Angeles Kings.
4 Potential playoff preview
Right now, the Stars are in the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, so they would avoid the Flames in the opening round of the playoffs if the regular season ended today. There’s still time for things to switch around, though, and it’s entirely possible the Stars could drop to the second wild-card spot. If the Flames finish the regular season with the best record in the West, they’d meet in the opening round.
5 This and that
The Stars are coming off a big win over Winnipeg — their most likely first-round playoff opponent — on Saturday. They beat the Central Division leaders 5-2. With three nights off between games, they should be well rested … Sam Bennett could be back this weekend for the Flames … Calgary media awarded Travis Hamonic with the Peter Maher “Good Guy” Award on Tuesday, which goes to the player who is the most co-operative with the reporters.