The Calgary Flames are set to face off against the Buffalo Sabres at the Saddledome tonight, January 23, at 7:00 p.m. MT. This matchup marks the Flames' return to the ice after being on break and will be their only home contest of the week.
Coming off of their last victory against the Winnipeg Jets, the Flames hold a record of 22-16-7. They have bounced back with a recent win but need to build on this momentum against the Sabres, who are currently at 18-24-5. The first encounter between these two teams this season took place on November 9, where the Sabres edged out the Flames 3-2 in a shootout. JJ Peterka scored the decisive goal which sealed the game for Buffalo.
Tonight's game presents the Flames with the opportunity to improve their positioning as they aim for playoff contention. With the team holding steady at fourth place in the Pacific Division standings, maintaining this position will be increasingly important as the season progresses. While the Flames were 5-5-0 over their last ten games, the Sabres come off of their own recent success, having secured a surprising 3-2 victory against the Vancouver Canucks.
Between the pipes, Flames' rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf returns to start the game, having made significant contributions throughout the season and particularly strong performances this January with a 4-2-0 record. Despite facing the Sabres only once previously, where they fell short, Wolf's home record stands at 11-2-1 this season, showcasing his ability to perform well under pressure. Wolf's overall stats reflect his growing prowess, featuring impressive metrics including a 2.28 GAA and .924 SV%.
Opposing him will be Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who currently shows mixed results with his performance this season. With 15 wins against 14 losses, Luukkonen’s GAA is not quite as appealing as his counterpart, yet he holds up decently on the road with metrics reflecting 2.64 GAA and .915 SV%.
The Flames are eager to watch the performance of rookie Rory Kerins, making his debut at the Saddledome. The 22-year-old forward is riding high, maintaining a point-per-game average at the AHL but is still hunting for his first NHL goal. Can the home crowd propel him to success? Fans will certainly be hopeful for his breakout moment amid buzz about his talent.
On the roster front, Calgary has also announced the recall of Wranglers captain Clark Bishop to the lineup. This will be Bishop's first NHL action since February 2022, and his presence might provide the spark the Flames need, especially within the bottom-six forwards. On the other hand, Nazem Kadri’s recent slump raises some eyebrows, as he seeks to get back on track after four games without registering any points.
Statistically, the Flames currently lead the Sabres with key players like Jonathan Huberdeau boasting 18 goals and 32 points, alongside solid performances from teammates like MacKenzie Weegar who is contributing with 17 assists. Conversely, the Sabres’ top offensive player, Tage Thompson has been pivotal with 21 goals this season, elevates the anticipation of tonight's showdown.
While evaluating the broader picture, the Flames are left making strategic decisions as they approach the NHL trade deadline. With their current success, discussions about whether they should bolster their squad by acquiring assets or stand pat has been circulating among pundits. There’s chatter on whether the team might look for promising players like Dylan Cozens to position themselves favorably either for this season or the next.
Daily Faceoff discussed the situation where analyst Tyler Yaremchuk interviewed colleagues on what the Flames should strategize. He mentioned, "Unless it’s a Dylan Cozens and it’s a long-term add, then maybe, but there’s no way the Flames are going out shopping for rentals to snag the eighth seed, right?" This indicates the organizational direction may prioritize smart long-term strategies over impulsive trades.
Fans and analysts will also be keeping tabs on the interplay of the Flames within the broader Western Conference picture. Currently, they are holding on to second wildcard positioning as they vie for playoff aspirations. The upcoming series of games against both conference and divisional rivals will likely influence their approach as the season winds down.
Tonight's game promises excitement as Calgary looks to turn the momentum of its previous win, make good on the opportunity with new talents showcasing their skills, and analyze their standing among the league. Tune in on SN1, MSG-B, and Sportsnet+ to catch the action live at 7:00 p.m. MT!