• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Flames look to get back on track before break

Jan 21, 2009 - 11:27 AM Columbus (22-20-4) at Calgary (27-14-4), 10:00 pm EST

CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- The Calgary Flames were the hottest team in the NHL less than a week ago.

Now, the Flames will try to avoid a third straight loss as they square off against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday.

After handing the San Jose Sharks their first regular-season home loss in regulation in over 11 months, Calgary has dropped back-to-back contests. Before the setbacks, the Flames had gone 11-1-1 over their previous 13 games.

Mike Cammalleri and Rene Bourque scored Sunday, but the Flames were handed a 6-2 thrashing by the Colorado Avalanche.

The Blue Jackets appeared to be headed for their fifth win in six games, but rookie Steve Mason surrendered a pair of goals in the final five minutes en route to a 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

Mason is having an excellent season, posting a 17-11-1 record and emerging as an early favorite to win the Calder Trophy. Even more pressure will fall on the 20-year-old with the recent news regarding starting netminder Pascal Leclaire.

The rest of Leclair's season is in jeopardy. He will undergo ankle surgery Friday that is expected to be keep him sidelined for 10 to 12 weeks, meaning he would be out until at least early April.