Calgary @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 17, 2019 ) Detroit 1, Calgary 5

Getting away from home could be the best thing for the Calgary Flames, who have earned just three of a possible 14 points in their last seven games at Scotiabank Saddledome. One of five teams in the tightly bunched Pacific Division battling for postseason slots, the Flames kick off a five-game road trip at the league-worst Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.

Calgary was unable to protect a pair of early two-goal leads in a 4-3 loss to NHL-leading Boston on Friday night to fall to 1-5-1 in its last seven at home. Flames forward Milan Lucic called Friday's loss a learning experience, adding that the team will "know what to expect" in a rematch against the Bruins on Tuesday night. First, though, Calgary must not let down against the sputtering Red Wings, who became the first team to be officially eliminated from postseason contention following Friday's 4-1 setback at the New York Islanders. “This has just been a long year. I think we’re trying to have fun and stick together and try to come to work every day and work hard," Detroit forward Frans Nielsen told reporters. "That’s all we can do right now. But it hasn’t been fun every day.”

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: FS Detroit Plus, Sportsnet

ABOUT THE FLAMES (31-25-6): Calgary set a franchise record for the fastest three goals to start a game in the first 3:23 against Boston, including a pair by the resurgent Mikael Backlund that gave him six tallies in as many games. Sean Monahan has only three points in his last 11 games overall, but has notched 12 in 13 contests versus Detroit after collecting two assists in a 5-1 win on Oct. 17. Captain Mark Giordano (hamstring), sidelined for the past eight games, skated for the third straight day Friday and will accompany the team on the road trip.

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (15-44-4): Offense continues to be a nightmare for Detroit, which has been limited to one goal or fewer in seven of the last 11 games. "We're put out there to generate offense and take care of the puck and manage it and we didn't do that especially," top-line center Dylan Larkin told the media after the Red Wings fell for the fifth time in six games. "We didn't bring enough energy to spark the team." Anthony Mantha, in his sixth contest since missing more than seven weeks to injury, ended an 11-game goal drought Friday.

OVERTIME

1. Calgary has won the past three meetings, outscoring Detroit 16-8.

2. The Red Wings claimed D Cody Goloubef off waivers from Ottawa on Friday.

3. Flames F Johnny Gaudreau has points in six of seven overall and 14 in 10 games versus Detroit.

PREDICTION: Flames 4, Red Wings 2