(My Sportsbook) - The
Calgary Flames will try to get back in the win column tonight, when they visit the
Edmonton Oilers for a Northwest Division battle at Rexall Place.
Calgary will have Curtis Joseph in goal for the first time tonight, as the 40- year-old veteran gets the start. Joseph went 18-31-2 with a 3.19 goals against average and .893 save percentage in 58 games with Phoenix this year. He started the 2007-08 campaign without a team, but was signed by Calgary last month. Joseph has 446 career wins in 913 NHL games.
The Flames had won four straight contests before getting handed a loss in Saturday's home tilt against Dallas. Niklas Hagman's early-third-period goal was the difference, as the Stars clipped Calgary, 2-1, at the Saddledome.
Daymond Langkow lit the lamp for the Flames, while Miikka Kiprusoff took the loss despite stopping 22-of-24 shots.
Calgary's Jarome Iginla added an assist in the loss and has notched a point in four of his last five games. However, Iginla, who leads the Flames in goals (32) and points (65) this season, hasn't posted a multi-point game since getting a goal and two assists against Los Angeles on January 5.
The Flames have 60 points and are currently tied for second in the Northwest with the Colorado Avalanche, who host Phoenix tonight. Minnesota is first in the division with 63 points on the year.
Calgary is in the middle of a stretch that sees it play seven of eight at home and tonight's test is the exception. The Flames are 13-9-1 as the visiting team this season and have won three of their last five on the road. Calgary will begin a three-game homestand Tuesday against Phoenix.
The Oilers, who are last in the Northwest with 51 points, have dropped two straight, three of four and six of their last eight games.
Edmonton was also dealt its most recent loss by Dallas, as the Stars posted a 4-1 win Friday night at Rexall Place. Brenden Morrow posted a goal and an assist to lead the Stars to the easy win.
Zack Stortini lit the lamp for the Oilers, while Dwayne Roloson allowed three goals on 21 shots in defeat.
The Oilers are 0-2 so far on a four-game homestand and are just 12-14-1 as the host club this season. Edmonton, which will complete its residency Wednesday against Chicago, has lost three in a row at home.
Edmonton and the Flames have split four meetings this year, but Calgary has taken six of nine and seven of the last 11 encounters. The Flames have also come out on top in five of their previous nine stops at Rexall Place.