• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Flyers-Flames Preview

Jan 31, 2010 - 11:46 PM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Philadelphia (27-23-3) at Calgary (27-20-8), 9:30 p.m. EDT

The NHL trade deadline is still a month away, but the Calgary Flames have already bolstered their roster with the hope of improving their tenuous playoff position.

After pulling off a blockbuster seven-player trade, the Flames could have those new additions on the ice when they host the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night.

Less than 24 hours after Calgary (27-20-8) snapped a season-high nine-game losing streak with a 6-1 win over rival Edmonton on Saturday, the Flames dealt All-Star defenseman Dion Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom and a prospect to Toronto for forwards Niklas Hagman, Matt Stajan, Jamal Mayers and defenseman Ian White.

While the Flames gave up a player with the potential to remain one of the game's top defenseman, the players they received have a chance to ignite an offense that ranks near the bottom of the Western Conference with 143 goals.

Tied for eighth in the West, Calgary will likely need to improve on the offensive end if it plans to make the playoffs for a sixth straight season.

"It's about performance," Flames general manager Darryl Sutter told the NHL's official Web site. "The guys we have coming in are all having good years, so that's what you want, to continue it."

The 30-year-old Hagman led Toronto with 20 goals this season, while Stajan has already matched a career high with 16 goals to go with 25 assists.

White could provide some offense from the blue line after matching a career high with 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 56 games this season. Mayers, 35, has two goals and 78 penalty minutes and should add an aggressive presence to an already physical team.

Phaneuf, meanwhile, was surprised by the move despite recent reports claiming he wanted out of Calgary. He had 75 goals and 153 assists in 4 1/2 seasons with the Flames.

"It was definitely a shock," said Phaneuf, who scored his 10th goal Saturday. "It's part of the business. It's a cliche \2026 if Wayne Gretzky can get traded anyone can get traded."

With a new-look roster, the Flames look to build off a much-needed victory against lowly Edmonton. Calgary earned a point in its third consecutive contest and equaled a season high for goals after being outscored 33-14 during its 0-6-3 stretch.

"It was a big game for our team," said captain Jarome Iginla, who had two goals with two assists after recording one and five assists in his previous 13 games. "It's three games in a row with a point, so it's something to build on. It's the right direction and it feels good."

Iginla has five goals with six assists in his last eight games against the Flyers. He had a pair of assists in Calgary's 5-1 victory at Philadelphia on March 5.

Miikka Kiprusoff snapped a personal eight-game losing streak by making 29 saves against the Oilers. Kiprusoff, who had a 2.68 goals-against average during his 0-5-3 stretch, is 3-1-1 with a 1.56 GAA against Philadelphia.

The Flyers (27-23-3) concluded a 4-2-0 homestand with a 14th straight victory over the New York Islanders, 2-1 on Saturday. Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell scored as the Flyers avoided a third straight loss.

After struggling in a 4-3 loss to Atlanta on Thursday, Ray Emery stopped 31 shots for his 15th victory this season. Emery is 0-1-1 with a 1.47 GAA against the Flames, but hasn't faced them since October 2006.

The Flyers are 1-3-1 in their last five road games but were a 3-2 winner in their last trip to Calgary on Oct. 4, 2007.