The two hottest teams in the NHL will look to extend impressive runs Saturday.
Few expected the Colorado Avalanche to be this good after last season's atrocious finish, but they've been one of the best stories in the league so far and have squeezed into the second Western Conference wild-card spot with eight straight victories.
The Calgary Flames have been on a torrid stretch of their own, too, with seven straight wins propelling them to third in the Pacific Division.
Here's a quick look at how both teams have done it:
Avalanche
| Date | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 12/29/17 | TOR | 4-3(OT) |
| 12/31/17 | NYI | 6-1 |
| 1/2/18 | WPG | 3-2(OT) |
| 1/4/18 | CBJ | 2-0 |
| 1/6/18 | MIN | 7-2 |
| 1/13/18 | @DAL | 4-1 |
| 1/15/18 | ANA | 3-1 |
| 1/18/18 | SJ | 5-3 |
Flames
| Date | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 12/31/17 | CHI | 4-3(OT) |
| 1/4/18 | LA | 4-3 |
| 1/6/18 | ANA | 3-2 |
| 1/9/18 | @MIN | 3-2(OT) |
| 1/11/18 | @TB | 5-1 |
| 1/12/18 | @FLA | 4-2 |
| 1/14/18 | @CAR | 4-1 |
The Avalanche run has been longer, but Colorado has had to play only once on the road during its eight-game streak, while four of the Flames' seven wins have been accomplished away from home.
Here's how the two clubs stack up statistically over this stretch:
| Category | COL | CGY |
|---|---|---|
| Goals/G | 4.25 | 3.86 |
| Goals Allowed/G | 1.62 | 2.00 |
| Goal Differential | +2.63 | +1.86 |
| Power Play | 32.1% (9-for-28) | 25% (5-for-20) |
| Penalty Kill | 93.1% (27-for-29) | 91.6 (22-for-24) |
Both teams have been great at limiting opposing power-play goals and have had plenty of success with their own man advantages.
The Avalanche have the edge in everything here, but not by much. Both teams deserve credit for their play on special teams and overall.
Jonathan Bernier's stellar play in goal has been a major reason for Colorado's sub-two GAA during their streak, and Nathan MacKinnon has amassed seven goals and 10 assists over the eight-game span.
Johnny Gaudreau has 13 points for the Flames during the seven-game stretch, and Sean Monahan scored four goals in six games before missing Calgary's most recent victory with the flu.
The Avalanche will try to extend their streak to nine Saturday in a matinee against the New York Rangers, while the Flames host the Winnipeg Jets in another afternoon affair.
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