Perhaps it seems like an irritatingly recurring motif, but once again, huge points are on the line when Calgary visits Detroit. The loser of the contest will be tentatively out of the playoff cut while the winner gets two points closer to April action.
Detroit comes into the game in good form having won 4 of their last 5 meetings, the latest of which a narrow win over the division-leading Blackhawks. Todd Bertuzzi left the game late in the second period with a charley horse, but is expected to suit up against his old team, the Flames. Jonathan Ericsson, who missed the Chicago victory, will also play as Brett Lebda makes way. Pavel Datsyuk missed practice Monday, because of flu-like symptoms, but will also play.
Datsyuk has been red hot lately registering 3 goals and 5 assists in his last five games. Eurotwin counterpart, Henrik Zetterberg, has also had a hot hand with 10 points in his last seven.
For the Flames, who've won 3 of their last 4, captain Jarome Iginla will be relied upon to help his team pick up the big points. Iginla snapped up 4 points including a hat-trick in the Flames 5-2 win on Sunday, totalling 10 points in his last 6 games. His luck against Detroit however, hasn't been so auspicious as Iggy has failed to put the puck in the net against the Wings in his last 19 games against them, managing to get 10 assists. Ending his cold-streak against Babcock's boys will go a long way to getting his team the much-needing victory.
After the game, both teams will be eager to learn the result of the concurrent Atlanta vs. Nashville game. For Detroit, a win over the Flames coupled with a Nashville loss will vault them into second place. On the other hand, any sort of loss to Calgary will see them drop to ninth and provisionally out of the playoffs, regardless of the Predators' fortunes.
Jimmy Howard and Miikka Kiprusoff are likely to be in opposite nets to start.
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