The Flames will put all six of their newly-acquired players on the ice Wednesday to see if they can pull the team out of a slump after losing 10 of its last 11 games.
The four players attained from Toronto in the Dion Phaneuf trade made their debut Sunday but couldn’t get the Flames a victory, losing to New Jersey 3-0.
Forwards Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins will be thrust into action Wednesday to try and find an offensive spark. Calgary is averaging 1.4 goals per game during its last 10 losses.
"You try and build chemistry, and get used to tendencies of the guys you're playing with. It doesn't just happen," said Matt Stajan after Sunday's game. "You start to get a feel, but it wasn't there tonight."
Don’t expect all these players to mesh right away and the task will be even greater against Carolina goalie Cam Ward who is 4-1 with a 1.80 goals-against average in the team’s last five games.
Pick: Hurricanes
Ottawa Senators at Buffalo Sabres (-140, 5.5)
During the Senators’ nine-game winning streak, goalie Brian Elliott has been absolutely out of his mind.
Elliott started in seven of those nine Ottawa wins and only gave up two goals twice during that span. He boasted a goals-against average of 1.14 and dazzling .960 save rate in those seven wins.
Prior to the 5-4 loss the Sabres endured Monday against Pittsburgh that saw Sid the Kid earn yet another hat trick, Buffalo had been playing some decent defense.
The Sabres had played three straight unders, allowing a total of four goals in those games.
Ottawa has won seven straight in this series and that trend will probably continue, but the safer play will be the expected shortage of goals.
ice picks
Reply With Quote