Calgary @ Winnipeg preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 21, 2018 ) Winnipeg 3, Calgary 6

The holiday break came at just the right time for the Calgary Flames, who look to snap a three-game losing streak on Thursday at the Western Conference-leading Winnipeg Jets. The slide followed a stretch where the Flames won 12 times in 15 games to rise to the conference lead, and after Saturday’s 3-1 home loss to St. Louis, Calgary captain Mark Giordano was quick to point out the need for a breather - and a quick return to form.

“It’s a big game coming out of the break against Winnipeg,” Giordano told reporters afterward. “You don’t want to let things like this keep going. We have to get into the win column as soon as possible.” While the Flames have taken a small step back, the Jets have surged by winning seven of their last eight to finish the pre-Christmas schedule with 50 points. Winnipeg hit the break with a clutch victory at Vancouver on Saturday, getting a late goal from Mark Scheifele in a 1-0 triumph. “We’re happy where we are,” Jets coach Paul Maurice told the media afterward. “We enjoy the win. But 50 points gets you about halfway to the playoffs. So, there is a whole lot of work to be done in the other half.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Calgary), TSN3 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE FLAMES (22-12-3): Goaltender Mike Smith played Saturday for the first time since Dec. 12 but was rusty, giving up three goals on 27 shots. Forward Matthew Tkachuk scored the lone Calgary goal against St. Louis, giving him three tallies and six assists in his past six games, and forward Johnny Gaudreau has six points (three goals) in his past four contests. After scoring seven goals in a victory over the Blues on Dec. 16, the Flames have just five goals in their past three games.

ABOUT THE JETS (24-10-2): Forward Blake Wheeler is tied for the NHL lead with 43 assists, picking up one on Scheifele’s goal with 1:32 to play against the Canucks. Scheifele recorded 17 points (six goals) in his final eight games before the break, registering multiple points in six contests. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is 7-2-0 in his past nine games with a .913 save percentage, and comes into Thursday with extra rest after Laurent Brossoit shut out Vancouver.

OVERTIME

1. Flames F Michael Frolik returned Saturday after missing 15 games with a high ankle sprain, logging 10 minutes, 15 seconds of ice time.

2. Winnipeg is first in the Western Conference in goal differential (plus-27), and the Flames are second (plus-24).

3. Calgary handed the Jets their worst loss of the season on Nov. 21, scoring five times in the first period en route to a 6-3 victory.

PREDICTION: Jets 5, Flames 4