[sureLoss]

Calgaryflames.com

US
The Flames are coming off a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, and return home to the Scotiabank Saddledome after picking up six of a possible eight points on a four-game road trip. Johnny Gaudreau took the team on his back over the past week, scoring a pair in the win over Chicago, and finishing the four-game junket with nine points (5G, 4A). The 25-year-old has already surpassed last year's goal total by netting goals 25 and 26 of the campaign on Monday, and is now only four off a new career high with 38 games to play. Incredibly, 'Johnny Hockey' has 45 (forty-five!) points (20G, 25A) in his last 25 games. "We're getting better every single game," Gaudreau said. "Coming out of that Christmas break, we didn't like where we were at and kind of came back a little slow. I think we've been getting better and better each game and finding a way to win games." … With an impressive 3-1 mark away from the friendly confines over the past week, the Flames have not only established the best road record in the NHL, they've kept pace with the hard-charging Vegas Golden Knights and continue to maintain their perch atop the Pacific Division standings with 58 points - tied with the Knights, but with a better ROW (wins in regulation and overtime) and with two games in hand. … David Rittich returned from a lower-body injury and led the Flames to back-to-back wins to finish the trip, stopping 64 of 69 shots for a .927 save percentage. The sophomore puck-stopper now returns home to the 'Dome, where he has not suffered a regulation loss all year (6-0-3). Overall, Rittich is 15-4-3, along with a .921 save percentage and a 2.40 goals-against average. … This is the first of a five-game homestand for the Flames, who will face the Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings over the next 10 days.



THEM
The Avalanche are plummeting at break-neck speed after emerging as one of the early favourites with a strong start in the opening quarter. Following a 7-4 defeat last night to their Central Division bedfellows, the Winnipeg Jets, they've now lost seven of their last eight and 11 of their last 15. At 17-7-5 just over a month ago, the Avs were sitting pretty in one of three divisional playoff spots. Today? They're 20-15-8, just three points up on the Minnesota Wild and Anaheim Ducks for a wild-card berth. Last night in the Manitoba capital, captain Gabriel Landeskog potted a pair, Carl Soderberg had a goal and one assist, while Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie each had two helpers. Philipp Grubauer was victimized for six Winnipeg goals on only 20 shots. The Avalanche outshot the Jets 41-21 and had 62 (63.27%) of 98 of the even-strength shot attempts. "I think that type of effort, that type of commitment 5-on-5 is a winning recipe is on most nights. Again, you got to eliminate a couple of those mistakes. You can't hand good teams - Calgary or Winnipeg, doesn't matter who it is - you can't hand good teams goals and then we got to win a little bit on the special teams," Avs coach Jared Bednar told Scott Billeck of NHL.com… With his two tallies against the Jets, Landeskog set a new career high for goals with 27, surpassing his previous best (26) with 39 games left on the schedule. He's only the second player in the Avalanche history to have this many goals at this point in the campaign. Longtime Av and 2013 Hall of Fame inductee, Joe Sakic, is the only player to have scored more, striking 29 times during the 1995-96 season. … Twenty-two-year-old Rantanen, meanwhile, continues to lead the Avalanche with 66 points (19G, 47A) in 43 games, trailing Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning by only five points for the league lead. ... MacKinnon is one point back of Rantanen with 65 points (25G, 40A).

Looks like Kylington is scratched which isn't surprising after he was benched in the 2nd in Chicago.

Kristen Anderson @KdotAnderson
Good morning from the Dome. Been seeing a lot of Rasmus Andersson/Dalton Prout on the third pairing. Indication that Kylington could sit.

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
David Rittich in the starter’s net this morning. Looks like he’ll make his third straight start tonight vs. Colorado. #Flames