Florida @ Calgary preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 14, 2019 ) Calgary 2, Florida 3

The Florida Panthers have recorded at least a point in six straight contests and look to continue their run when they visit the up-and-down Calgary Flames on Thursday night to open a four-game western road trip. The Panthers are 3-0-3 during their streak after winning at Nashville in a shootout Saturday and holding off Pittsburgh for a 4-2 triumph Tuesday with 23 saves from Sergei Bobrovsky.

“It’s an important trip for us in some really tough places,” Florida coach Joel Quenneville, whose team also plays Edmonton, Vancouver and Colorado on its trek, told reporters after Tuesday’s win. “We want to make sure that we take care of business here at home. I think that was a real positive coming out of today’s game. … Let’s go into this trip knowing each and every night that we’re going to look to get some points.” The teams split their two games last season, but the Flames have won five of the last seven meetings including a 4-3 victory at home last January. Calgary has yet to win more than two straight or lose more than two in a row in the first 11 games after dropping a 5-3 decision against Washington on Tuesday at home. “We know we’ve got another level to get to and we’re very aware of that,” Flames coach Bill Peters told reporters. “We’ve got to get to it, we’ve got to get some desperation in our game, a little more hunger and some one-on-one battles, better at some of the wall work in certain situations and that’ll improve our game.”

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Florida, Sportsnet West (Calgary)

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (4-2-3): Defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who’s next game will be his 400th in the NHL, missed Tuesday’s contest because of illness while center Vincent Trocheck (upper body) was also held out and both are questionable. Jonathan Huberdeau leads the team with 10 points after matching fellow forward Denis Malgin (six points) with a goal and an assist against Pittsburgh. Center Brian Boyle, who signed a one-year contract Sunday, made his debut with the Panthers against Pittsburgh and registered three shots, three blocks and one hit in 14 minutes, seven seconds of ice time.

ABOUT THE FLAMES (5-5-1): Left wing Johnny Gaudreau (three goals) notched an assist against Washington to take over the team lead with nine points and move within four of 400 for his career. Gaudreau’s linemate Elias Lindholm recorded his team-best sixth goal and 97th of his career in the setback while fellow forwards Tobias Rieder and Austin Czarnik each contributed their first of the season. No. 1 goalie David Rittich (4-3-1) sat out the loss against the Capitals and is expected back between the pipes Thursday after allowing a total of four goals in his wins and 18 in the other four contests.

OVERTIME

1. Calgary F Sam Bennett (lower body) missed Tuesday’s game, but could return to face the Panthers.

2. Florida acquired F Aleksi Saarela from Chicago on Wednesday in exchange for D Ian McCoshen.

3. The Flames entered Wednesday third in the league in penalty killing (88.4 percent) and second in power plays allowed (43).

PREDICTION: Flames 4, Panthers 3