Preview - Flames vs. Blackhawks

BLACKHAWKS (11-4-2) VS. FLAMES (7-10-1)
BROADCAST:7:00 PM MT; Sportsnet West (TV), Sportsnet 960 The FAN (radio)
SEASON SERIES: Friday's game is the final match-up in the 2016-17 season series between the Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks. The two clubs have split the first pair of skates, with the Flames taking the first game 3-2 in a shootout and the Blackhawks picking up a 5-1 win in the second contest. Patrick Kane leads all skaters in scoring in the season series with two goals and four points. Artem Anisimov trails him with one goal and three points. In this year's series, special teams have played a big role in Calgary's offensive production - two of the three goals they have scored in regulation have come on the power play and the other was a short-handed tally from Michael Frolik.

BLACKHAWKS TEAM SCOPE:The Blackhawks are in the midst of their annual Circus Trip, which takes place at the end of November when the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus takes over the United Center. They kicked off the journey in Winnipeg on Tuesday, falling 4-0 to the Jets. Kane leads Chicago in scoring with six goals and 18 points through 17 games. Anisimov, with eight goals and 17 points, and Artemi Panarin, who has six goals and 16 points, round out the Blackhawks' top three in scoring. Netminder Corey Crawford has appeared in 14 games this season, posting a 8-4-2 record with a 2.18 GAA and a .928 save percentage.
FLAMES TEAM SCOPE:Calgary is looking to build off of back-to-back wins earlier this week. On Tuesday, the Flames downed the Minnesota Wild 1-0 at the Xcel Energy Center. Johnny Gaudreau, who suffered a fractured finger in the win and is expected to miss approximately six weeks, scored the lone goal in the win while Chad Johnson made 27 saves in his shutout performance. On Wednesday, Johnson was back in net for the 2-1 overtime victory over the Arizona Coyotes at the Scotiabank Saddledome. He stopped 20 of the 21 shots he faced, posting a .952 save percentage in the win. Matthew Tkachuk scored in regulation and Frolik netted the game-winner 49 seconds into the extra frame.