The Dallas Stars, positioned second in the Central Division with a 40-19-2 record, are set to clash with the Calgary Flames, who sit fourth in the Pacific Division at 29-23-9. After a thrilling game that saw Thomas Harley score a last-minute winner against the New Jersey Devils, the Stars are on a three-game winning streak. Conversely, the Flames also come off a win, decisively beating the Philadelphia Flyers 6-3.

In this matchup, the Stars look to continue their strong performance after previously defeating the Flames 6-2 in their first meeting of the season. The Flames' recent statistics reveal a concerning -20 scoring differential, having allowed more goals than they scored this season. Stars' star players include Jason Robertson, who has scored 25 goals and made 36 assists, while Harley enters the game with a four-game point streak.

As the NHL trade deadline approaches, the Buffalo Sabres find themselves in a precarious position at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Among potential trade candidates, forward Dylan Cozens stands out. The 24-year-old center has been linked to several teams, notably the Calgary Flames, who are eager to bolster their offensive lineup. Despite a down year, Cozens remains a valuable asset, highlighted by his impressive 31 goals and 68 points in the previous season.

If the Flames can secure Cozens, he would likely slot into a second-line role alongside players like Joel Farabee and Blake Coleman, enhancing Calgary's power play options. However, the Sabres are under no obligation to rush a trade, as Cozens is under contract until 2029-30, giving them leverage in negotiations.

The Calgary Flames dominated the Philadelphia Flyers with a solid 6-3 victory, highlighted by a powerful first period where they scored four goals. Connor Zary led the charge with a pair of goals, opening the scoring and then doubling the lead shortly afterwards. Despite the Flyers' Noah Cates and Andrei Kuzmenko narrowing the gap, the Flames responded with strikes from Yegor Sharangovich and MacKenzie Weegar, solidifying their lead by the end of the second period. Sean Couturier made it interesting with a goal in the third, but Matt Coronato sealed the game with an empty-net score.

Connor Zary's standout performance, with two goals, propelled the Calgary Flames to a decisive 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. In a spectacular display, Nazem Kadri contributed a goal within a 1:52 span during the first period, showcasing a potent Flames offense that surged early. Alongside Zary and Kadri, Yegor Sharangovich, MacKenzie Weegar, and Matt Coronato added to the scoreboard, with Dustin Wolf making 26 saves to secure the win. The Flyers struggled defensively, replacing Samuel Ersson after a rocky start, while Noah Cates, Andrei Kuzmenko, and Matvei Michkov netted goals for Philadelphia.

The Flames reversed their previous fortunes, having lost three consecutive games and only managed a single goal during that stretch. Their explosive first-period performance, featuring four goals in just over two minutes, underlines a significant turnaround. The Flyers, on the other hand, continued to struggle, securing only three wins since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break. With this victory, the Flames look to maintain momentum heading into their next matchup against the Dallas Stars.

The Calgary Flames, under GM Craig Conroy, are eyeing the NHL trade deadline with a focus on rewarding their players for a strong season. Conroy emphasized the importance of any moves aligning with the team's overall strategy, hinting at a preference for younger players with controllable contracts. The Flames are specifically in search of a left-handed defenseman but are unlikely to make significant trades.

In trade discussions, the Los Angeles Kings have shown potential interest in acquiring Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes, should he become available. This interest includes a possible trade involving Jordan Spence, who the Hurricanes might find appealing as they look to bolster their blue line. Meanwhile, the Vancouver Canucks are considering Brock Boeser and Pius Suter, especially if salary retention allows for manageable cap hits.