(My Sportsbook) - The
Calgary Flames will try to rebound from a loss when they open a four-game road trip this evening at Scottrade Center against the
St. Louis Blues.
The Flames had won three straight before losing to the visiting Dallas Stars on Tuesday. Fabian Brunnstrom's second-period tally proved to be the game- winner as the Stars defeated Calgary, 3-1, at the Saddledome.
David Moss had the Flames' lone goal and Miikka Kiprusoff, who has started every game this season but one, allowed two goals on 22 shots for Calgary.
However, the game will be best known for the controversy surrounding Stars forward Sean Avery. Before the game, the NHL suspended Avery indefinitely for inappropriate public comments he made to the local Calgary media on Tuesday morning.
During a television interview, Avery used a rude term about his ex-girlfriends dating other players in the league. Avery was linked romantically to model Rachel Hunter and his ex-girlfriend, actress Elisha Cuthbert, best known for her role on the Fox show "24", is dating Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf.
The Flames have struggled on the road this season, as they've posted a 5-6-0 mark away from the Saddledome. Calgary, which will also visit the New York Rangers, Montreal and Detroit on the swing, has won its last two road contests.
St. Louis, meanwhile, has dropped three of its last four games and is coming off Wednesday's shutout loss against the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom turned aside all 22 shots he faced to record his third shutout of the season as the Wild blanked the visiting Blues, 4-0, at Xcel Energy Center.
Chris Mason stopped 34-of-37 shots in the losing effort for the Blues.
Tonight marks the opener of a three-game homestand for St. Louis, which is 5-5-1 in the Gateway City this season. The Blues have lost two of three and six of their last eight tilts on home ice.
The Flames have dominated the series with St. Louis in recent years, winning three straight and 10 of the last 11 encounters between the clubs. Calgary has also won four of five and six of the last eight meetings in the Arch City.
