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Can the Calgary Flames Ignite at Madison Square Garden Against the New York Rangers?

As the Calgary Flames prepare to face off against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, fans are eager to see if their team can carry forward their recent momentum. The Flames have shown a mixed bag of results in their past few games, but there are positive trends that suggest they could be catching fire at just the right time.


Oct 24, 2023; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) and Calgary Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar (52) battle for the puck during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

In their last outing against Los Angeles Kings, despite a loss with a final score of 5-3, the Flames demonstrated resilience and an ability to score across all periods. However, they'll need to tighten up defensively as they allowed five goals on even strength and had a minus-17 plus-minus rating.


The game before that saw a more favorable outcome for Calgary with a shutout win over Anaheim Ducks. The Flames' goaltending was impeccable with 25 saves and an impressive powerplay performance that contributed one goal out of seven opportunities. This victory showcased Calgary's potential when they capitalize on special teams and maintain strong defense.


Oct 24, 2023; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Dillon Dube (29) and New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren (55) collide during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier still, in their home rink against Florida Panthers, Calgary secured another win with three goals scored and only one conceded. Their shorthanded play was particularly noteworthy as they netted two goals while down a man – an area that could prove crucial in upcoming matches.


Looking ahead to their clash in New York, it's clear that special teams could be decisive once again. With powerplay conversions sitting around fifty percent recently and penalty killing showing signs of brilliance (as evidenced by those shorthanded goals), these aspects may tip the scales for or against them.


Oct 24, 2023; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Blake Coleman (20) celebrates his goal with teammates against the New York Rangers during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

The venue itself is iconic; Madison Square Garden has been known to both inspire visiting teams with its history and intimidate them with its raucous home crowd support. The Flames will need every ounce of focus if they're to come away from 'The World’s Most Famous Arena' with two points.


Fans can catch this exciting matchup on February 13th through ESPN+ online or MSG 2 for local television viewers. Will the Calgary Flames continue building upon their strengths or will Madison Square Garden witness another team extinguishing their flame? Only time will tell as we await puck drop in what promises to be an enthralling encounter.

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