Where’s Iginla?
The Calgary Flames are challenging for the Northwest Division lead, but they also may be concerned about a recent lack of production from Jarome Iginla.
The All-Star will try to score for the first time in 10 games as the Flames travel to face the Edmonton Oilers in the latest chapter of the "Battle of Alberta" on Monday night.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Calgary -137 money line favorites (NHL Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 5 goals (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 65% of bets for this game have been placed on Calgary –137 (View NHL Bet Percentages).
On Jan. 5, Iginla recorded his 16th multipoint game of the season in a 6-4 win over Los Angeles, capping a 19-game stretch in which he had 19 goals and 11 assists. Since then, however, he’s managed only five assists in nine games.
He notched a point on linemate Daymond Langkow’s goal in a 2-1 loss to Dallas on Saturday night that snapped Calgary’s four-game winning streak.
"I’d like to score," Iginla told the Flames’ official Web site. "Tonight is the most chances I’ve had in a while but (Stars goaltender) Marty Turco played really well. You just have to stay positive and go to the net."
Iginla has points in all four games against the Oilers this season, totaling a goal and five assists. The Edmonton native has just six goals in his last 13 regular-season visits to Rexall Place.
Calgary is 12-1-3 when Iginla has at least two points in a game, but 14-17-5 when he doesn’t.
Miikka Kiprusoff made 22 saves in Saturday’s loss, but could sit in favor of Curtis Joseph, who’s yet to play since signing with Calgary on Jan. 17.
Joseph, whose next win will match Hall of Famer Terry Sawchuk for fourth all time with 447, played with Oilers from 1995-98, and is 10-6-2 with a 2.40 goals-against average and two shutouts when visiting Edmonton.
Coming into this game, Calgary (26-18-8) has 60 points and is tied with Colorado for second in the Northwest, three points behind Minnesota. The Avalanche will play host to Phoenix while the Wild are idle.
Edmonton is last in the Northwest with 51 points, and tied with Chicago for 13th in the Western Conference.
The Oilers (23-26-5) fell 4-1 to Dallas on Friday, and have been outscored 10-2 in a three-game skid at home. Zack Stortini gave Edmonton an early lead with his second goal of the season but still lost its seventh straight at home to the Stars.
"It was a tough one," Oilers forward Marty Reasoner said. "It was a must-win game for us. We know how important these games are for us at home. We have to be able to find a way to tie that game back up and go ahead. It was pretty frustrating."
Dwayne Roloson stopped 18 Dallas shots and lost for the sixth time in seven starts. Mathieu Garon could get the start in this contest, but he hasn’t posted a regulation win in four starts since beating Calgary 2-1 on Jan. 13.
The Oilers played Friday without leading scorer Shawn Horcoff (21 goals, 50 points), who was out with a sore shoulder and questionable for this game. Horcoff and Ales Hemsky each had a goal and assist in the Oilers’ home win over the Flames last month.
The longtime provincial rivals have split their four previous games.
by: Staff Writers – Email Us
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