Flames look for 3rd victory over Stars

While Calgary and Dallas each currently sit in playoff position in the Western Conference, only the Flames are playing like a true postseason contender of late.

Calgary has a chance to improve its standing as its seeks a third straight victory over the struggling Stars on Wednesday night at the Saddledome.

Though Dallas (31-20-6) is fifth in the West, it’s dropped two in a row and is 2-7-1 following a five-game winning streak. The Stars are one point behind Pacific Division-leading Phoenix for third in the West, but also are one of four teams – including three in their division – with 68 points.

“We’re frustrated,” Dallas captain Brenden Morrow said after Tuesday’s 4-1 loss at last-place Edmonton. “It hasn’t been a good run for us. Every day we say the right things, we talk about the right things, we have meetings on top of meetings, and then we come out in the game and fall behind.”

In the midst of a 9-1-2 stretch, Calgary (29-22-8) owns the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference, but is two points behind the Stars.

“We keep going with this work ethic…and we will be fine,’ captain Jarome Iginla told the Flames’ official website.

The Flames have gone 2-0 against the Stars this season, including a 7-4 home win over Dallas on Jan. 21 as Iginla had a goal and assist.

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Fantasy notes:
Loui Eriksson found the back of the net against the Oilers last night and has 2-2-4 in 5 GP vs. CGY over this season and last year. Curtis Glencross will be trying to extend his five-game goal streak, where he has 6-3-9 in that time. | Follow Chris Nichols on Twitter

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That victory equaled Calgary’s highest-scoring game of the season until Monday’s 9-1 rout of Colorado in Denver.

Iginla scored twice, giving him three goals with six assists his last six games. Curtis Glencross added two goals with an assist while Olli Jokinen and David Moss each had a goal with three assists.

“It’s fun when you score goals like that,” said Moss, who had two goals and an assist against the Stars last month. “It’s a good feeling, hopefully we can keep it going.”

While the Flames hope to do so, they could be without Jokinen after a lower-body injury forced him to miss the third period Monday. Jokinen, who had a goal and an assist in the most recent game against Dallas, has three goals with seven assists his last five games overall.

The Stars, meanwhile, could have a hard time getting back on track if Brad Richards – the team leader with 24 goals and 39 assists – misses a second straight game with an upper-body injury. Defenseman Nicklas Grossman also could miss his second consecutive contest because of a groin injury.

Loui Eriksson will be on the ice after he scored Tuesday for the Stars, who have scored 12 goals while going 1-5-1 since the All-Star break.

“I don’t think we have been playing at the level we can,” said Kari Lehtonen, who made 26 saves against the Oilers and has given up 22 goals in his last seven games. “We have some guys hurt, but I think we still have a much better team than we have showed the last couple games.

“It’s a very important part of the season and we want to get wins.”

Eriksson has two goals and two assists in his last five games against the Flames.

Calgary’s Miikka Kiprusoff has a 1.75 goals-against average while winning three of five against the Stars.