Calgary @ New Jersey preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 8, 2018 ) Calgary 3, New Jersey 2

The Calgary Flames attempt to increase their lead in the Pacific Division when they conclude their three-game road trip Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils. Calgary posted a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday to extend its winning streak to a season-high six games and move five points ahead of San Jose in the Pacific.

Mikael Backlund and defenseman Rasmus Andersson scored less than two minutes apart early in the third period for the Flames, who have earned at least one point in four straight on the road (3-0-1). Backlund's goal was his fourth in five contests and extended his point streak to six games. New Jersey hopes to extend its home winning streak to three games after edging Montreal 2-1 on Monday in the first of three straight contests at Prudential Center. Veteran Cory Schneider made 34 saves en route to his fourth win in five decisions while a mix of rookies and newcomers provided the offense for the Devils, who have won four of their last five on their own rink and four of six overall.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Calgary), MSG Plus (New Jersey)

ABOUT THE FLAMES (40-16-7): Johnny Gaudreau notched an assist versus New York to raise his team-leading point total to 80 - four shy of the career high he set last campaign. The 25-year-old native of New Jersey is the 11th player in franchise history to post consecutive 80-point seasons and second since 1994-95 (Jarome Iginla, three straight from 2006-09). Matthew Tkachuk netted his career-high 25th tally on Tuesday, ending a 14-game drought that followed a four-game streak during which he recorded five goals.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (25-30-8): Nathan Bastian, a 21-year-old right wing who was appearing in his second NHL game, scored his first career goal on Monday while fellow rookie Kurtis Gabriel tallied for the second time in three contests after recording just one assist in his first nine games this season. Defenseman Connor Carrick, who was acquired from Dallas two days earlier, notched a pair of assists in his debut with the Devils while rookie Kevin Rooney and first-year blue-liner Egor Yakovlev registered one apiece. The 25-year-old Carrick is playing for his fourth team since being selected by Washington in the fifth round of the 2012 draft, as he also has suited up for the Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs and Stars.

OVERTIME

1. Devils LW Miles Wood (lower body) and C John Quenneville (undisclosed) both were injured in the win over Montreal and are day-to-day.

2. Flames C Sean Monahan, who has gone seven games without a goal and scored in just one of his last 13 contests, is two tallies shy of tying the career high of 31 he set in 2014-15 and matched last season.

3. New Jersey D Will Butcher (lower body) did not play Monday and is questionable to face Calgary.

PREDICTION: Flames 6, Devils 1