Leafs @ Flames Preview: Rocky Mountain Low

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Calgary Flames
Scotiabank Saddledome; Calgary, AB
9:00 PM ET; SN (Ontario/West only)
SBN Cowboy Boot Lickers: Matchsticks and Gasoline

Matchup

The Leafs play the first of three games on a Western Canadian road trip in Calgary tonight. The Flames, to this point, are the only team the Leafs have not yet faced this season. The Leafs' track record of success in Cowtown is less than desirable, posting a 1-6-0 record dating back to January 2006. The Leafs last game against Calgary was on Mar. 13, 2015, which the Flames won 6-3.

The Leafs have put up a 2-1-0 record since the All-Star Break, but that one loss came in their most recent game and boy was it a doozy. The Leafs were spanked 6-1 by the Ottawa Senators and suffered key injuries to Tyler Bozak and Shawn Matthias, both of whom did not travel west. Joffrey Lupul was also placed on the IR, and will be unavailable until the conclusion of the roadtrip. In another added twist this morning, Dion Phaneuf was traded to the Ottawa Senators.

The Flames' struggles with regression have been well-documented. They only sit two points ahead of a Leafs team widely anticipating a bad season. While most people were under the impression the Flames' 2014-15 season was a mirage, their lack of success this season still must be disappointing.

Probable Leafs Lineup

As mentioned above, Bozak, Lupul, and Matthias will not be playing; the Leafs called up Mark Arcobello, Rich Clune, and Josh Leivo. Martin Marincin will fill the void left by the Phaneuf trade. James Reimer is the confirmed starter.

Grabner - Kadri - Komarov

Holland - Arcobello - Parenteau

Winnik - Spaling - Leivo

Clune - Froese - Boyes

Hunwick - Rielly

Gardiner - Polak

Marincin - Corrado

Reimer