Notes: Wings healthier than the last time they faced the Flames

CALGARY -- It wasn't that long ago that the Detroit Red Wings faced the talented, Western Conference-leading Calgary Flames.
The Flames (30-13-5) came to Detroit Jan. 2 and left with a 5-3 victory, thanks to two third-period goals (one an empty-netter).

That's been a common story for the Flames this season as they have outscored opponents 74-37 in the third period.
"It's good for us obviously, getting big goals in the third period," Calgary star Johnny Gaudreau said. "We've had a couple games where we've been down a couple goals and found a way to get some big goals to tie the game up and there's been games where we've been up and we've increased the lead a little bit more. It's been good there."
Gaudreau got the game-winner in Detroit, part of a one-goal, three-assist night for him.
That was the second game of Gaudreau's current nine-game point streak in which he has nine goals and 11 assists.
Gaudreau leads the Flames with 28 goals and 43 assists but his linemates are also thriving.
Elias Lindholm has 21 goals and 34 assists and Sean Monahan has 25 goals and 33 assists.
Wings coach Jeff Blashill was asked how his team could slow down Calgary's top line.
"Plant the flu," Blashill joked. "I've got an unreal respect. I've had a chance to coach Johnny Gaudreau twice. One of the best players in the league. Unreal competitor. He's playing at a level maybe beyond what he's ever played at. That's how good he's playing right now. That doesn't take away from Monahan or Lindholm. They're both paying excellent, too but Johnny presents multiple difficulties. He's got the ability to get behind people like probably nobody in the league. He controls the puck in so many areas and again, he's playing with such great confidence.
"Like any good line, the more you have the puck and they have to defend, that can frustrate them. You certainly have to be above them. You have to make sure you're taking their time and space away. Those are things that you talk about, but if they have the puck a lot tonight, they're going to create offense. They just will. We want to have the puck as much as we can. We want to have the puck in the O-zone as much as we can, so that they have to defend."

With all their offensive talent, the Flames are unsurprisingly one of the better teams with the man-advantage, eighth in the league at 22.6 percent. At home, they are third in the league at 26.9 percent.
Calgary's penalty kill is just 21st in the league at 78.5 percent but they lead the league in shorthanded goals with 14, two more than the Arizona Coyotes.
"It's something to be aware of certainly, but you can't go on the power play and play afraid to make a mistake, otherwise your power play won't be any good at all," Blashill said.. "The advantage of having shorthanded goals is sometimes it puts the power plays on their heels. But you certainly have to be aware of it. Basically it comes down to your weak side flank, so that guy on the weak side has to be aware and anytime he senses danger, he's gotta make sure he gets back above the puck."

Mark Jankowski leads the Flames with four shorthanded goals and seven shorthanded points. Mark Giordano has two shorthanded goals and three shorthanded points. Michael Frolik also has two shorthanded goals.
"It's tough at times, because you don't expect guys to blow the zone and whatnot," Wings defenseman Mike Green said after participating in the optional morning skate. "These guys utilize their speed with their PK. I think the top guys just got to make sure that we've covering each other and still being able to play our system on the power play, too. It's a fine balance."
Of course, the Wings are a different team than the last time they faced the Flames.
Green, defenseman Danny DeKeyser and forward Anthony Mantha have all returned to the lineup since that game.
"Go back to the last game in Detroit, they're a little healthier now, they got a few more guys in," Flames coach Bill Peters, a former Wings assistant coach, said. "They're a better team. We'll have our hands full."
Green, a Calgary native who will have lots of family and friends at the game, will be playing in his fourth contest since returning to action.
"I feel good," Green said. "Obviously, it was some unfortunate incidents to start the season. I just tried to do everything I possibly could to stay in shape and keep my mind fresh. I think it's helped to kind of come back here quicker than I expected."

BEST PALS WON'T FACE EACH OTHER: Rookie forward Michael Rasmussen skated during the optional morning session but is not yet ready to play.
Rasmussen has missed the last five games with a hamstring injury.
On the other side, Flames rookie defenseman Jusso Valimaki has missed 26 games due to a high-ankle sprain.
The two players are connected by more than just their rookie status and current spot on the sidelines.
Rasmussen and Valimaki both played for the Tri-City Americans in the Western Hockey League and stayed with the same billet family.
"I just actually talked to him this morning," Valimaki said after skating with the Flames. "I'll see him this afternoon. It'll be good, I haven't seen him in a long time."
After holding court with reporters for more than 10 minutes about his recovery and timeline for returning, Valimaki laughed when he was told he was a bit more talkative than Rasmussen.
"That's been the storyline for what, four years now," Valimaki said. "He's the quiet, even some people say he's a little grumpy at times and I'm the happy guy. I guess that's kind of how it comes out to people most of the time. He's quiet, I'm always saying something. When you actually know him, it's not like that. He's a great guy, we always have fun. He talks a lot, too. He's a little different with the media and other people, me compared to him, but that's just how he is. We've been best friends for three and a half years now. We always had a great time. I kind of find it funny, the story that he's the quiet guy and I'm the happy guy. It's just kind of funny for me. I get where it comes from though."
Valimaki said he's observed Rasmussen with people who don't know him well but says that is definitely not the guy he knows.
"He's pretty similar to what I am at the end of the day," Valimaki said. "We like similar stuff. He's a happy guy, he jokes around. He's really hard-working. he's a humble kid. We always had a great time. He's just a great guy."
Rasmussen got an assist in that game Calgary played in Detroit.
Because this is the last time the Wings face the Flames this season, the two buddies won't get to play against each other.
"I know, that was one of those things that I was really hoping to do this year," Valimaki said. "I missed the Detroit game and now we're both out of the lineup.
"That would have been fun but we've got a lot of years left to do that."