PREVIEW: FLAMES @ MARLIES

ADIRONDACK FLAMES (33-28-6-2) @ TORONTO MARLIES (33-27-9-0)

Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. - Ricoh Coliseum

LISTEN LIVE: HITS 95.9 & TALK 1450

Tonight's Game: The Adirondack Flames are in search of two more critical points in the Western Conference standings, as they visit Ricoh Coliseum to take on the Toronto Marlies. Toronto sits one points ahead of the Flames in the standings, making tonight's contest one of large implications for both teams.

Last Game: The Adirondack Flames won the season series three wins to one against the San Antonio Rampage, as they earned a 7-3 road victory at the AT&T Center on Saturday evening. Ten different Adirondack skaters found the scoresheet, including six different goal scorers. Center Bill Arnold led the way with four assists, while Kenny Agostino and Garnet Hathaway remained hot with three points of their own. Doug Carr collected his third victory of the season with 23 saves.

Head-To-Head: The Flames and Marlies have been the toughest of foes this season, with Adirondack leading the season series four games to three and Toronto leading in total goals scored 21-20. Tonight is the final meeting between the two North Division rivals.

Scouting The Marlies: The Marlies are right in the thick of the playoff hunt, with 75 points from 69 games played, which puts them four points out of eighth place in the West. The Marlies are led offensively by winger Connor Brown, who tops the team with 38 assists and 56 points (18-38-56). Teammate Matt Frattin is the team leader in goals with 18, while defenseman T.J. Brennan has contributed 40 points (10-30-40) from the blueline, split between the Rockford IceHogs and Marlies.

Christopher Gibson has led Toronto between the pipes, as the Finnish netminder leads the team with 21 victories, a .918 save percentage and a 2.50 goals against average. Backup netminder Antoine Bibeau tops the team with four shutouts fromm 27 appearances.

Flames Quick Hits

Kenny Agostino has surged into the Flames' scoring lead, spearheaded by eight points over his past four games and 20 points over his past 15 games. Agostino has now amassed 37 points (12-25-37), which tops the team in both points and assists.

Wingers David Wolf and Garnet Hathaway are currently tied for the team lead with 19 goals apiece, bolstered by four goals in four games for Hathaway and three goals in four games for Wolf.

The Flames are on a rarity of a streak, with shorthanded goals in each of their past four games. Garnet Hathaway, Kenny Agostino, Max Reinhart, Mathieu Tousignant and Taylor Vause have each netted a shorthanded goal, the first time in franchise history any such streak has occurred.