(My Sportsbook) - A six-game winning streak had helped the Flames erase their slow start. However, Calgary is back to its losing ways and will host the
Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at Pengrowth Saddledome.
The Flames began this season with losses in four of their first five games. The club, though, then ripped off six straight, outscoring opponents 20-9 in that span.
However, after Sunday's 6-1 loss to Chicago, the Flames have now lost two straight and four of their last five since their winning streak. They have played some poor hockey in that span, getting outscored 16-6 in the four losses.
Dustin Boyd netted the lone goal in Sunday's loss, a game in which Calgary went 0-for-8 on the power play. That Flames are ninth in the NHL in power-play percent (19.8) and are clicking at a 22.0 percent on the man advantage at home this season. They are 5-2-1 as the host team this year overall.
Miikka Kiprusoff faced 27 shots and allowed six goals for a second straight game. He has a 4.79 goals against average over his last four starts (1-3-0) and is 8-6-1 on the season with a 3.33 GAA and .888 save percentage. Kiprusoff is 1-1-1 with a 2.99 GAA in three career starts versus the Maple Leafs.
Jarome Iginla and Mike Cammalleri skated versus the Blackhawks, but both are questionable for tonight's game due to flu-like symptoms. Dion Phaneuf, meanwhile, is doubtful after taking a high stick on Sunday to the face that has caused swelling around his eye.
Toronto's visit to Calgary tonight is the first of three straight on the road for the club. It has lost its last two as the visitor and the Maple Leafs are 3-3-1 overall on the road this year.
The Maple Leafs halted a three-game losing streak last time out, defeating the Montreal Canadiens, 6-3, in the annual Hall of Fame Game on Saturday. Niklas Hagman scored twice, Nik Antropov had a goal and two assists, and Alexei Ponikarovsky, Pavel Kubina and Mikhail Grabovski each tallied a goal and assist.
Vesa Toskala made 17 saves in the win for the Maple Leafs.
Hagman has five goals and six assists over his last nine games, while Kubina's night extended his point streak to six games (2 goals, 5 assists). Grabovski, meanwhile, has scored six of his team-high seven goals in the last four games.
Toronto lost defenseman Mike Van Ryn to a scary injury over the weekend, as he took a big hit from forward Tom Kostopoulos early in the first period. Van Ryn was rammed into the end boards from behind by Kostopoulos, who was suspended for three games for the hit, and went down to the ice. He suffered a broken hand, broken nose, concussion and facial cuts.
The Maple Leafs have won five of their last eight versus the Flames, winning 5-4 in overtime in the last meeting between the clubs on October 14, 2006. Toronto has lot its last three in Calgary, where it hasn't won since December 27, 2002.