Vegas Golden Knights at Calgary Flames Storylines: Huge night ahead

The Vegas Golden Knights face a huge couple of days and it starts in Calgary against the Flames tonight.

After dropping a stinker to the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, the Vegas Golden Knights now have the challenge of taking on arguably their most important back-to-back of the year.

They take on the surging Flames tonight before heading to Edmonton for a massive showdown with the Oilers on Monday.

Both games are colossal for the Golden Knights and we’ve delved into some storylines for you to digest ahead of faceoff against the Flames…

Storyline 1 – Lots on the line

To say that tonight’s game at the Scotiabank Saddledome is a big one would be a huge understatement.

The Golden Knights are second in the Pacific Division and three points above the Flames, meaning that a win for either team would be significant.

If the Knights can win then that would start to put some distance there, while a win for the Flames would heap more pressure on Vegas.

CALGARY, AB – MARCH 4: The Calgary Flames celebrate after Matthew Tkachuk #19 scored against Joonas Korpisalo #70 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on March 4, 2020 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /

Storyline 2 – Surging Flames

The Calgary Flames are really starting to heat up right now and they have won three consecutive games.

They are also 5-1-1 in their last seven and they have also outscored the Golden Knights 20-6 in the last three meetings between the teams in Calgary.

Storyline 3 – Starting Strong

It has been a major bugaboo of the Vegas Golden Knights all year, but it has really started to rear its ugly head over the course of the last few weeks.

We are of course talking about the fact that the Golden Knights have really struggled in the opening stages of games.

They have now allowed the first goal of the game on the first shot in three of their last four outings, including against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday which resulted in a blowout loss.

That won’t do in the postseason and the Knights really need to ensure they come out flying against the Flames tonight.

CALGARY, AB – MARCH 4: Cameron Talbot #39 and Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Calgary Flames celebrate after defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets in overtime during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on March 4, 2020 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /

Storyline 4 – Gritty Tkachuk

Matthew Tkachuk, and the Tkachuk brothers in general, have developed a reputation for being tenacious and incredibly hard to play against.

But both players are very talented and, in Matthew’s case, he is also a huge threat in the offensive zone.

For instance, the oldest of the Tkachuk siblings leads the Calgary Flames in points this year with 60 (22 goals, 38 assists), and he really sets the tone for his team.

Golden Knights & Flames: Date, Time, TV, More. dark. Next

In order to escape the Saddledome with a huge win, the Golden Knights will have to shutdown Tkachuk and prevent him from getting the Flames going.

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