Carolina @ Calgary preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 29, 2019 ) Calgary 1, Carolina 2

The Calgary Flames have ignited their offense, and victories have followed suit. The Flames have highlighted a nine-game point streak (8-0-1) by winning each of their last seven games heading into Saturday afternoon's contest against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes.

Calgary scored three times in the third period of Thursday's 4-2 victory over Toronto, marking the fifth consecutive contest that the Flames have scored at least four goals while remaining undefeated since Geoff Ward was named the interim coach in place of Bill Peters. "Started fresh with (Ward), and we've been playing really well. We've been playing really well and it's showing in our results," said Johnny Gaudreau, who scored twice versus the Maple Leafs. Gaudreau notched an assist on former Hurricane Elias Lindholm's goal in the first period of Calgary's 2-1 setback against Carolina on Oct. 29, with Andrei Svechnikov scoring twice in just over three minutes midway into the third period. The 19-year-old Russian collected two goals and three assists in a three-game stretch before the Hurricanes sustained a 1-0 overtime loss in Vancouver on Thursday.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, FS Carolinas, Sportsnet West (Calgary)

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (19-11-2): Carolina was unable to solve Jakob Markstrom -- well, with the exception of Sebastian Aho's goal that was disallowed after a premature whistle -- and saw its three-game win streak halted with a fifth setback in 15 games (10-4-1). "It's the way we want to play. It's what we want to do. If we do that 82 games a year, we're going to like where we're at," Jordan Staal said after his team pumped 43 shots on goal, including 22 in the third period. The 31-year-old had set up a goal in each of his three games prior to Thursday, although he has registered just five points (one goal, four assists) in 13 career games versus the Flames.

ABOUT THE FLAMES (18-12-4): Gaudreau appears to have put a modest four-game point drought in his rearview mirror by collecting eight over his last nine games, including four goals in five contests in December. "He's really feeling it again, isn't he?" fellow forward Michael Frolik said. "Last year was special for him. In this league it's not easy to do what he did a second straight time. ... He's starting to play like the Johnny we all know." Sean Monahan has five goals and as many assists during an eight-game point streak, which is two shy of his career best stretch -- set from Nov. 28 to Dec. 19, 2016.

OVERTIME

1. Aho, who has a team-leading 18 goals, collected five goals and two assists in the two previous games before the Hurricanes were shut out on Thursday.

2. Calgary is bidding to win eight in a row for the first time since the 2016-17 season.

3. Hurricanes LW Teuvo Teravainen has five of his club-best 24 assists over his last three games.

PREDICTION: Hurricanes 3, Flames 1