The Calgary Flames and New York Islanders are set to face off at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 4:00 PM ET. Both teams are in the thick of their respective playoff races, making this matchup crucial as the regular season winds down.
Team Overview
Calgary Flames (32-25-11)
- Current Form: The Flames are riding a wave of momentum, having won the first two games of their Tri-State Area road trip. They defeated the New York Rangers 2-1 on Tuesday and followed it up with a thrilling 5-3 comeback victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. Calgary sits just two points behind the St. Louis Blues for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
- Road Record: Calgary has been solid on the road, posting a 14-14-6 record this season.
- Key Players:
- Jonathan Huberdeau: Leads the team with 26 goals and 26 assists (52 points). Huberdeau scored a crucial goal in the Flames’ comeback win over New Jersey.
- Nazem Kadri: A consistent contributor with 5 goals and 3 assists in his last 10 games, including an empty-net goal against the Devils.
- Connor Zary: The young forward has been a revelation, adding depth to Calgary’s offense.
- Goaltending:
- Dustin Wolf is expected to start. The rookie netminder has been a standout, keeping Calgary competitive with his athleticism and poise. He made 26 saves in the win over New Jersey and has been instrumental in the Flames’ playoff push.
New York Islanders (32-28-8)
- Current Form: The Islanders are on a three-game winning streak, including a 4-3 overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. Bo Horvat scored twice, including the overtime winner, as the Isles continue to fight for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. They are just two points behind the Canadiens for the final playoff position.
- Home Record: New York has been strong at home, boasting a 17-13-3 record at UBS Arena.
- Key Players:
- Bo Horvat: Leads the team with 28 goals and 25 assists (53 points). Horvat has been clutch, scoring the game-winner in overtime against Montreal.
- Simon Holmstrom: Scored a power-play goal in the last game and has been a key contributor on special teams.
- Anthony Duclair: Adds speed and scoring depth, with a power-play goal in the Canadiens game.
- Goaltending:
- Ilya Sorokin is expected to start. Sorokin has been in excellent form, going 5-1-1 in his last seven starts with a .927 save percentage and a 2.28 GAA. He also made history in the last game by recording two assists, becoming the first goalie in Islanders history to achieve a multi-point game.
Head-to-Head Matchup
- Season Series: This is the second meeting between the two teams this season. The Flames won the first matchup 2-1 in a shootout on November 19, with Jonathan Huberdeau scoring the decisive goal.
- Historical Record: Calgary has dominated the recent rivalry, winning 7 of the last 10 meetings.
- Key Stats:
- Calgary averages 2.57 goals per game while allowing 2.70 goals per game.
- New York averages 2.95 goals per game while conceding 2.90 goals per game.
- The Flames’ power play ranks 19th in the league (19.8%), while the Islanders’ penalty kill ranks 21st (78.4%).
Projected Lineups
Calgary Flames:
- Forwards:
- Huberdeau – Kadri – Zary
- Coronato – Backlund – Coleman
- Ruzicka – Dube – Duehr
- Hunt – Rooney – Lewis
- Defense:
- Andersson – Hanifin
- Weegar – Zadorov
- Pachal – Gilbert
- Goaltender: Dustin Wolf (expected starter)
New York Islanders:
- Forwards:
- Horvat – Barzal – Duclair
- Nelson – Lee – Palmieri
- Pageau – Holmstrom – Fasching
- Cizikas – Martin – Clutterbuck
- Defense:
- Pelech – Pulock
- Romanov – Dobson
- Aho – Mayfield
- Goaltender: Ilya Sorokin (expected starter)
Injury Report
Calgary Flames:
- Dan Vladar (lower body): Out.
- Jakob Pelletier (upper body): Out.
New York Islanders:
- Alexander Romanov (illness): Expected to return after missing two games.
- Oliver Wahlstrom (knee): Out for the season.
Storylines to Watch
- Playoff Implications: Both teams are on the playoff bubble, making this a must-win game for their postseason aspirations.
- Goaltending Duel: Dustin Wolf and Ilya Sorokin are two of the league’s most exciting goaltenders. Their performances could decide the outcome.
- Bo Horvat’s Leadership: Horvat has been the Islanders’ most consistent player and will look to continue his clutch performances.
- Flames’ Resilience: Calgary has shown grit on this road trip, rallying from deficits to secure key wins. Can they maintain that momentum?
