The Pittsburgh Penguins will be looking for revenge tonight as they visit the Saddledome to play the Calgary Flames for the second time this season. Their last matchup, played on October 28th, was a 4-0 beat down amid the first dominant road trip through the East for the Flames.
It may not be wise to assume another four goal win.
For a start, Sidney Crosby is back. He had a point in all three goals in the Penguins’ last game on the 27th; a 6-3 loss to the Canadiens.
In that game backup Casey DeSmith wishes he could have a few back. Much like he did on October 27th against the Flames. He’s been having a rough season with a 0-3-1 record and .867 save percentage over four games. Unfortunately for the Flames, it’s far more likely Tristan Jarry is in net tonight.
Jarry is putting up spectacular numbers this season. In a head-to-head comparison, he doesn’t look statistically too different from Jacob Markstrom. Given that the Penguins have dealt with core injuries quite frequently this season — its pretty incredible that Jarry’s stats look like they do.
Jarry has had some good games against Calgary. The most recent instances being in the 19-20 season. A 4-1 win at the Saddledome and a 3-2OT win where the Flames threw everything but the kitchen sink at him, but couldn’t get more than two. He posted a .950 percentage in the latter game.
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Defensive showdown
6-3 loss to the Canadiens notwithstanding, the Penguins have tightened up greatly on defence. Four goals against.
Tristan Jarry has played six games in the last two weeks and has been scored on four times. That’s as hot as a goaltender gets.
Opposing teams have required exceptional goaltending to beat the Calgary Flames this season. The Flames have their work cut out for them tonight.
Kicking another trend
The Flames don’t handle time off well. This has been a problem for years. In 2018, the Flames were on a seven game winning streak, took their bye week then lost six in a row. In 2019, the Flames lost five of six following their week off. Stretches of days off seem to steal momentum from this core.
With a loss to the Jets after four days off, you have to be worried as a Flames fan. Wounds heal but scars remain. Going from the league’s hottest team to the league’s coldest is something that Flames fans are rocked by far more often than most teams — even going back to the days where the Flames were a basement team until Iggy heated up and vice versa.
Standing in the way of dispelling that trend tonight is the league’s hottest goalie.
Enjoy the game,
Trevor Neufeld
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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