The Dallas Stars and the Calgary Flames meet up for the first time this season on Wednesday in Calgary. Both teams had struggling starts to the season, but have come along well in the last few games. Dallas is riding a four-game win streak heading into Calgary, while the Flames are coming off a loss against Minnesota on Monday. Calgary has lost six of their last seven games at home this season, which does not bode well for Wednesday's game.
The Stars are playing well due to their fantastic goaltending. In Tuesday's win in Edmonton, goalie Kari Lehtonen made 35 saves in the 4-1 win. Lehtonen has a 1.77 goals-against average this season with a .940 saves percentage in his last five starts. Jaromir Jagr is leading the team with nine points, helping the team dominate while on the road. Dallas will be without veteran Ray Whitney who sustained a broken foot.
The Flames are now without veteran goalie Miikka Kiprusoff due to injury, which leaves the door open for Leland Irving to being marking his spot as the team's leading goalie. The team claimed Joey MacDonald off waivers from Detroit, but want Irving to get a chance to compete for the starting job. Calgary's head coach is content on letting Irving play out. He is currently 1-1-1 since taking over the starting job for over a week with a 2.62 goals-against average. Jiri Hudler is playing the team's best hockey right now with three points in his last three games. Team captain Jarome Iginla is expected to help push the team during this struggling stretch.
Dallas is winning ugly, but they are winning none the less. They need to continue this streak in order to keep gaining speed in the Western Conference standings where they currently sit in seventh place.