5 THINGS - FLAMES @ PENGUINS

NEED-TO-KNOW
GAME DAY VIDEO
Game Day Setup
Pre-Game Interviews
GAME DAY FEATURES
Projected Lineup
Confidence Is Key - Early Feature 
Say What Quotables: 'Felt Good Out There'

STAT PACK
Media Game Notes
Scoring Leaders
Standings
2018-19 season series: 1-1-0-0
All-time regular-season record: 44-44-18-2
Flames road record:5-9-1
Penguins home record: 8-3-2
Special Teams:
Flames powerplay:15.5% (23rd)
Flames penalty-kill:85.5% (5th)
Penguins powerplay: 15.4% (24th)
Penguins penalty-kill: 86.7% (3rd)
Current Leading Scorers:
Flames:
Points - Matthew Tkachuk (20)
Goals - Elias Lindholm (11)
Penguins:
Points - Jake Guentzel (20)
Goals- Guentzel (11)

1. US

The Flames are coming off a huge 3-2 shootout victory over the Flyers in Philly on Saturday afternoon after losing their previous six outings, including falling 5-0 in St Louis to the Blues Thursday night to start this four-game road swing. Jakub Voracek scored at 13:26 of the second period, poking home a loose puck behind David Rittich that came off a shot by former Calgary Hitmen star Travis Sanheim. Andrew Mangiapane - playing with a face shield after having his nose broken on a hit in the Blues game - scored to tie things up just 1:01 into the third period. Kevin Hayes made it 2-1 for the homeside with just over four minutes to play, but with Rittich pulled and the Flames skating 6-on-5, Lindholm* was in the right place at the right time to take the rebound off the back boards from a Rasmus Andersson* shot and fire it into the open cage. Overtime was frantic with tons of good chances for both clubs. In the shootout, Tkachuk was the only scorer, beating Carter Hartto ice it. "Ya, I mean obviously huge win," said Andersson. "It just feels really nice ot be back in the winning column here. Big effort from the guys in the shootout, Ritter obviously stepped up really big in there. Ya, really nice to get a win."

2. THEM

The Pens beat the Devils 4-1 at home on Friday, Tristan Jarry making 36 saves in the victory. Dominik Kahun scored in the first for the Pens, but Taylor Hall tied it up 31 seconds into the middle frame. Guentzel later scored in the period and Jared McCann and John Marino added tallies within 25 seconds of each other in the third. "It's a huge night," Guentzel said. "Top to bottom, when we have four lines going, we're tough to stop. We've been playing well at home, so just have to keep going." ... Prior to the win, the Pens had dropped two straight in overtime to the Islanders: 5-4 at home on Nov. 19 and 4-3 at Barclays Center on Nov. 21.

3. US vs. THEM

This is the first of two matchups this season between the clubs. Last year they split the season series, the Pens winning 9-1 at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Oct. 25 in a game that was widely seen as a turning point in the season for the Flames, who caught fire after that and would go on to finish tops in the Western Conference. In the return matchup for the clubs, Calgary came out on top 5-4 at PPG Paints Arena on Feb. 16. Derek Ryan recorded three assists in that game, those three points leading all Calgary scorers in the two-game set ... The Flames have won six of their last eight games against the Pens.

4. THIS, THAT & THE OTHER

THIS:Defenceman TJ Brodie joined the team in Philly and skated during an optional skate with his teammates yesterday in Pittsburgh. Head coach Bill Peters said he will be a game-time decision tonight to play against the Penguins.
The team activated him off the IR today
... THAT:The Flames have a record of 6-3-0 against Eastern Conference opponents this season, and a record of 4-3-0 against the Metropolitan Division … THE OTHER: With an assist on Saturday, Johnny Gaudreau is now tied with Lanny McDonald for the 12th most points in Flames franchise history with 406 points apiece. Gaudreau has five goals and 14 assists for 19 points so far this season to make his career totals 138 goals and 268 assists in 420 games. The 26-year-old is now just 18 points away from catching Jim Peplinskifor 11th on the Flames all-time points list. Johnny's 406 career points came in 72 less games than McDonald's, while Lanny had 215 goals as a Flame to Johnny's 138.

5. PLAYERS TO WATCH

Flames: LW Andrew Mangiapane
Scored once against the Flyers, nearly scored another when he torched Philly defenceman Phillipe Myers with a great move, then beat the outstretched leg of Hart, only to put the puck off the post and see it fire back out underneath the down-and-out Hart.
Penguins:C Jared McCann
Is tied for second in team goal-scoring with eight tallies this season, and potted one in the Pens last outing.