CALGARY FLAMES NOTES:
This is the second of four meetings this season between the Flames and Golden Knights. The Flames won 2-1 in their first meeting this season back on November 27th . This is a Pacific Division versus Central Division matchup; the Flames have a record of 4-6-0 against Central Division teams and a record of 8-8-0 against Western Conference opponents.
LAST MEETING:
The Calgary Flames opened a six-game homestand back on November 27 th by welcoming the Vegas Golden Knights to the Scotiabank Saddledome. The goaltenders were the big story, and it began early with both Dan Vladar and Adin Hill turning aside 18 of 19 combined first period shots, with Vegas’s William Karlsson scoring the only goal of the frame to put the Golden Knights up 1-0. There would be no scoring in the second, but both goalies were tested often with the teams combining for 20 shots in the middle stanza, but Vegas still held a 1-0 edge through 40 minutes of play. In the third, Calgary would finally solve Adin Hill with A.J. Greer finding a loose puck in the slot and depositing his fourth on the season into the net to tie the game at ones. This contest would require overtime and in the dying embers of the extra frame, MacKenzie Weegar took a puck end-to-end a ripped home the game-winner as Calgary prevailed 2-1.
LAST TRIP TO T-MOBILE:
Calgary’s last trip to Vegas came on March 16th of last season, with the Flames recording their first win at T-Mobile Arena with a 7-2 triumph. Blake Coleman (2G, 0A), MacKenzie Weegar (1G, 1A), Rasmus Andersson (0G, 2A), and Elias Lindholm (0G, 2A) all recorded two-point nights while Lindholm set a single game career best in plus/minus, registering as a +5 on the night.
SPREAD THE WEALTH:
The Calgary Flames have had 10 different players record a power play goal this season, which is tied for the second-most players with a power play goal on a single team in the NHL this season. Mikael Backlund, Nazem Kadri, Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, A.J. Greer, Noah Hanifin, Dillon Dube, Matt Coronato have all scored on the man advantage.
BACK-TO-BACKS:
The Flames enter their fourth back-to-back set of the 2023-24 season tonight in Vegas following last night’s contest in Colorado. The Flames previous three back-to-back scenarios came on (Nov. 24 at DAL, Nov. 25 at COL) (Oct. 19 at BUF, Oct. 20 at CBJ) and (Nov. 10 at TOR, Nov. 11 at OTT) and Calgary has a record of 2-1-1 in the first half of back-to-backs and a record of 0-3-0 in the second half of back-to-backs. Following this, Calgary will have four more back-to-back sets this season with their next coming on Jan. 6-7 in Philadelphia and Chicago.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS NOTES:
AGAINST THE FLAMES
The Vegas Golden Knights will face the Calgary Flames for the second time this year and the first time at T-Mobile this season. The last time these teams met, Vegas fell 2-1, in overtime at the Scotiabank Saddledome. William Karlsson got the Golden Knights on the board first with a power-play tally. Vegas held on to its 1-0 lead through the remainder of the first period and through the second until two and half minutes into the third, when A.J. Greer leveled things for Calgary. Regulation expired with the clubs level at 1-1. Vegas and Calgary each exchanged chances but Adin Hill and Dan Vladar stood tall to give their teams a chance to win. In the final seconds of the extra frame, MacKenzie Weegar was able to complete the 2-1 comeback for the Flames. The Golden Knights hold a 12-6-1 all-time record against the Flames and are 8-1-0 when playing at T-Mobile Arena. Five of their last eight meetings have been one-goal games.
SHARK SLAYERS
The Golden Knights’ victory over the Sharks improved their all-time record to 23-2-5 against San Jose. Vegas’ 23 victories match their most regular-season wins against one opponent (also 23 vs. ANA). Jonathan Marchessault scored twice on Sunday against the Sharks to mark his 12th and 13th goals against the club, the most goals he has against any opponent and his 29 points (13-16—29) are also his most against all franchises.
THE BEST IN THE WEST
Vegas remains the number one team in the NHL and the Western Conference with 43 points after defeating San Jose on Sunday. The Golden Knights are 15-3-4 against Western Conference opponents this season and are playing the last of five straight Western matchups.
40 VISION
Vegas became the first team to reach the 40-point mark this season and required the second-fewest games in franchise history to hit the mark (28 GP), one shy of their fastest achieved in 2020-21 (27 GP).
DEFENDING THE FORTRESS
The Golden Knights kicked-off a four-game homestand by defeating the Sharks on Sunday night. Before its contest with San Jose, Vegas had played 11 of its last 16 games on the road. With their 10-2-2 record at T-Mobile Arena this season, the Golden Knights have recorded 22 points at home, the most in the NHL. Vegas owns an all-time record of 144-68-19 in 231 home games during the regular season, ranking fifth in the NHL since the 2017-18 season.
