5 THINGS - FLAMES @ STARS

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GAME DAY VIDEO
Game Day with Brendan Parker
Pregame Interviews
GAME DAY FEATURES
Coleman: 'I Know She's Watching'
Projected Lineup
Say What - 'Huge Game For Both Teams'
STAT PACK
Media Game Notes
Scoring Leaders
Head-to-Head Stats
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Leading Scorers:
Flames:
Points - Johnny Gaudreau (52)
Goals - Matthew Tkachuk (20)
Stars:
Points - Joe Pavelski (48)
Goals - Roope Hintz (20)
Special Teams:
Flames:
PP - 21.9% (11th) / PK - 83.8% (6th)
Stars:
PP - 26.2% (4th) / PK - 75.6% (25th)
Advanced Stats:
Flames:
Shot Attempts: 55.09% (3rd)
High-Danger Chances: 56.06% (2nd)
Stars:
Shot Attempts: 49.45% (18th)
High-Danger Chances: 53.00% (10th)

1. LAST TIME OUT

It's officially the halfway mark.
Tonight's tilt is Game 41 of 82 for the Flames, as they visit the Stars for the second meeting of the season.
Coming off a 1-0 overtime victory over the Vancouver Canucks Saturday night, the Flames outshoot the Canucks 32-15 in a game in which they stayed patient and focused.
"The main thing is that we stuck with it," Milan Lucic said. "You have find a way to win those games and capitalize when you get a chance and stick with it when it takes more than 60 minutes. When you look at playoffs and teams that win playoff series', they win 1-0 games. Those are the games you have to learn how to win."
Tuesday's clash presents a chance to avenge a 4-3 overtime loss to the Stars back in November while building some momentum heading into this week's all-star break.
With the Stars right on their heels in the playoff race, these are the games that serve a double purpose - move up in the standings and push the other club down.
The Flames do have the advantage with 40 games played headed into the tilt, the least amount in the Pacific Division, looking to make those games in hand count.
"The way the standings are, and you look at it every day, every game becomes more and more important," Lucic said "I think that's why Darryl puts so much of an emphasis on getting two points or even one on a night to night basis. With 42 games left here and two before the all-star break, it's something we need to do to continue to get points and climb up the standings.
"We're a team that relies on everyone, and we need everyone to be good every single night, that's where we need to continue to push each other."

2. KNOW YOUR ENEMY

The Stars head into the match-up rolling, winners of five of their last six games by a combined score of 19-12.
Sunday night was their latest triumph, a 6-1 thumping of the Boston Bruins as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes. Tyler Seguin led the charge with a three-point night, highlighted by two goals.
"That was probably the best game we've played all year, both ends of the ice," Dallas head coach Rick Bowness said after the win. "That's what we need, we need the contributions from the other lines. Seguin's line stepped up big tonight, Glendening got a big goal for us, Radulov. That's what we need. We need some more offense spread out throughout the team.
"When I talk about the consistency of the team, it's gotta be there. They gotta keep it going."
Secondary scoring has been the talk for the Stars through the first half of the season, with the likes of Jaimie Benn, Dennis Gurianov and Alexander Radulov all under 20 points and Tyler Seguin only at 22.
The trio of Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski have been the drivers with 55 goals and 127 points combined between them. Their goal total almost accounts for half of the Stars' 124 tallies this season.
Something to keep an eye out for is the Dallas powerplay, scoring 32 goals with the man advantage and currently the fifth-best powerplay in the league.

3. FAST FACTS

MARK-STOP: Jacob Markstrom recorded 15 saves to blank his former team Saturday at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Markstrom now has a league-leading seven shutouts this season which is the second most in a season in franchise history, only Mikka Kiprusoff (10 in 2005-06) has recorded more in a single season. The Flames now have nine shutouts this season (Markstrom - 7, Vladar - 2) which is tied for the third most through 40 games in NHL history (Most: Blackhawks - 11 in 1930-31).
BACK-TO-BACK:The Flames will play their seventh back-to-back of the season starting tonight against the Stars before playing the Coyotes tomorrow in Glendale. The Flames are 4-2-0 in the first game of a back-to-back this season and 3-2-1 in the second game of the set. Calgary's next back-to-back will come immediately after the All-Star break where they will play the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 9 and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 10, both at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
DID YOU KNOW?: On Saturday, Johnny Gaudreau notched the 36th game-winning-goal of his career which is the ffth most in Flames history. Sean Monahan has the third most game-winners with 47. Both players trail Jarome Iginla, who notched 83 GWG's in his 1,219 games as a member of the Flames.

4. PLAYERS TO WATCH

Flames - Johnny Gaudreau
Gaudreau was named the NHL's third star of the week on Monday after a seven-day segment of two goals and six assists for eight points in four games. Johnny was on fire in the month of January where he recorded 19 points (5G, 14A) in 11 contests to lead the Flames and also finished the month a +10, pushing his season plus/minus total to +29, a team high and good for fourth in the league. Gaudreau has already surpassed the 50-point mark, and sits tied for seventh in NHL scoring.
Stars - Roope Hintz
The 25-year-old hit the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career after his tally against the Boston Bruins, which was also his fifth marker in the past six games. The centreman is well on his way to set a new career high in points sitting just six away from the 43 he had last campaign. Hintz, who will appear in his 200th career game tonight, has 63 goals and 135 points so far in his young career.

5. QUOTABLE

Nikita Zadorov on sticking to the team identity during the second half of the season:
"We have to be confident and comfortable playing and winning 1-0 games. When we get closer to playoffs, all the teams are going to dial it down defensively. There won't be many chances and scoring opportunities so we need to get comfortable playing in those games and win them. Our team mentality is defence first, checking and getting the puck back, and when we get those chances we have to bury them. That's the identity of our team."