Flames Face Surging Lightning in Another Tough Road Test

The Calgary Flames are only two games into their season-long six-game road trip, but head coach Ryan Huska already knows his team will need to step up if they want to survive this grueling stretch. With five of the six matchups coming against current playoff contenders, the challenge is significant, and it continues on Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are playing some of their best hockey of the season.

The Flames enter the game in the No. 2 Western Conference wild-card spot, holding a slim lead over the Vancouver Canucks. Every point matters as the race tightens, and finding a way to steal a victory in Tampa would be a major boost.

Meanwhile, the Lightning are rolling. Tampa Bay comes in with a season-high six-game winning streak, fresh off a dominant 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. The Bolts have found their defensive rhythm and will look to extend their streak at home against a Flames squad searching for consistency.

Flames Finding Unexpected Contributors on Offense

One of the biggest challenges for Calgary this season has been secondary scoring. While stars like Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri lead the team offensively, the Flames have recently seen a spark from unexpected sources.

In their 3-2 win over San Jose and 3-1 victory over Washington, Calgary got goals from depth players like Kevin Rooney, Martin Pospisil, and defenseman Joel Hanley.

Hanley, who has spent much of his career as a depth defenseman, scored his first-ever game-winner against the Sharks, marking just the fourth goal of his 222-game NHL career. Huska praised Hanley’s resilience, noting how he continued to put in the work despite sitting out 24 of the Flames’ first 30 games.

“Think about it: You come to the rink every day, you see your name’s not on the board (to play) and you know you’re going to get bag-skated again,” Huska said. “What he did was put himself into position when called upon. When he’s had his opportunity, I feel like he’s grabbed hold of it.”

With 22 goals, Huberdeau leads the Flames in scoring, while his 43 points are tied with Kadri for the team lead. However, if Calgary wants to stay competitive on this road trip, they’ll need their depth players to continue contributing.

Lightning Playing Their Best Hockey of the Season

After dealing with some inconsistency earlier in the year, Tampa Bay has found its stride. The Lightning enter Thursday night’s game on a six-game winning streak, playing their most complete hockey of the season.

Their latest victory came against the Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers, a game many expected to be an offensive showcase. Instead, the Bolts shut down Edmonton’s superstars, holding Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to just one point each in a 4-1 win.

Head coach Jon Cooper emphasized that his team’s defensive commitment has been a major factor in their success.

“Tonight’s game sticks out,” Cooper said after the win over Edmonton. “We really defended well. We defended well in the two Ottawa games that started this streak. We played well enough in the other games, but I think goaltending helped us in the Detroit and Montreal games.”

The Lightning have been limiting opponents’ scoring chances, cutting down on odd-man rushes and keeping pressure off their goaltenders. That has made a huge difference for Andrei Vasilevskiy, who is closing in on his eighth straight 30-win season.

Tampa Bay’s offense is clicking too, with Jake Guentzel leading the charge. The high-scoring forward had a hat trick in the first meeting between these two teams on Dec. 12, when the Lightning crushed Calgary 8-3. The Flames will need to contain Tampa’s speed and firepower if they hope to avoid a similar outcome.

Keys to the Game

For Calgary, the top priority will be defensive discipline. The Lightning have shown they can exploit mistakes, and the Flames cannot afford to trade goals in a high-scoring game. They’ll need to play a structured game, limit turnovers, and capitalize on their chances when they come.

The Flames will also need strong goaltending to keep Tampa’s offense in check. With Vasilevskiy playing at a high level, the Flames will need their netminder to match that performance.

For Tampa Bay, sticking to their defensive structure will be key. The Bolts have been shutting down elite scorers, and if they can keep Huberdeau and Kadri from generating offense, they’ll put themselves in a strong position to extend their winning streak.

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What’s at Stake?

For the Flames, this is just the second stop on their six-game road trip, but it’s already shaping up to be a critical game. A win against Tampa would not only keep them in a playoff spot but also build confidence as they head into even tougher matchups.

For the Lightning, another win would extend their streak and further solidify their defensive resurgence. With the playoffs approaching, Tampa is rounding into form at just the right time.

Calgary is desperate for points, and Tampa Bay is determined to stay hot. With both teams motivated, Thursday night’s game has all the makings of an intense battle.

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