It’s a phrase we’re going to trot out constantly around these parts – at least until they get an X next to their name in the standings – but tonight’s game between the Calgary Flames and the Los Angeles Kings at the Scotiabank Saddledome is a big, big game. Yes, even bigger than their last game at the Saddledome a couple weeks ago.
Things have gone well for the Flames lately. They’ve won a lot. They’re relatively healthy. They can make life much, much easier for themselves down the stretch with a regulation win. That outcome would put the Kings 11 points back of the Flames. If they’re 11 points back with 10 games to go, they ain’t catching them.
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. MT on Sportsnet One (and West) and Sportsnet 960 The Fan!
THE FLAMES
Lines via Daily Faceoff:
LW | C | RW |
---|---|---|
![]() Matthew Tkachuk |
![]() Mikael Backlund |
![]() Michael Frolik |
![]() Johnny Gaudreau |
![]() Sean Monahan |
Alex Chiasson
|
![]() Kris Versteeg |
Matt Stajan | ![]() Troy Brouwer |
![]() Lance Bouma |
Sam Bennett | Curtis Lazar
|
Defensive Pairings | |
---|---|
![]() Mark Giordano |
![]() Dougie Hamilton |
![]() T.J. Brodie |
Michael Stone
|
![]() Matt Bartkowski |
Deryk Engelland |
Brian Elliott starts yet again, as he’s been very, very good lately. He’s 22-13-3 with a 2.47 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. He was still recovering from the flu on Friday and managed to make many nice saves in the win. He would’ve had a shutout had T.J. Brodie not served up a softie in his own end.
The only real change we may see is Sam Bennett starting the game with Lance Bouma and Alex Chiasson on the fourth line. Bennett spent the last two periods centering the fourth line on Friday and was decent, if unspectacular. The challenge for him right now is that he’s been consistently decent, but it’s not translating into goals at a time of year where they’re the only thing that really matters. Considering how important line matching is going to be in a game like this one, the outcome of the game itself may rely on Calgary’s bottom six being more productive than the Kings’.
Update It looks like Ferland’s absense will be related to a potential mumps scare
#LAKvsCGY Update: Micheal Ferland will not play tonight. He is under observation for the mumps.
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) March 19, 2017
THE KINGS
Lines via Daily Faceoff:
LW | C | RW |
---|---|---|
![]() Dustin Brown |
![]() Anze Kopitar |
![]() Jarome Iginla |
![]() Tanner Pearson |
![]() Jeff Carter |
![]() Tyler Toffoli |
![]() Adrian Kempe |
![]() Trevor Lewis |
![]() Marian Gaborik |
![]() Kyle Clifford |
![]() Nic Dowd |
![]() Andy Andreoff |
Defensive Pairings | |
---|---|
![]() Derek Forbort |
![]() Drew Doughty |
![]() Jake Muzzin |
![]() Paul Ladue |
![]() Kevin Gravel |
![]() Alec Martinez |
Most likely, Jonathan Quick starts for the Kings; they’ve had a bunch of back-to-backs lately and Quick always starts the first game. He’s 5-1-1 with a 2.02 goals against average and a .928 save percentage. He’s been really good lately for the Kings, and really has been since coming back from injury a few weeks ago.
The Kings are generally healthy, which is great, because this is the first game of a crucial back to back for them. They’re in Calgary tonight and Edmonton tomorrow. Two wins really helps them close the gap with Nashville and Calgary for a wildcard spot. Two losses probably kills their playoff chances for good.
THE NUMBERS
FLAMES | KINGS | |
Wins | 40 | 34 |
Points (Pct.) |
84 (592.) |
75 (.536) |
Power Play | 19.9% | 19.2% |
Penalty Kill | 81.1% | 85.1% |
Score-Adjusted Corsi | 50.7% | 54.7% |
HISTORY LESSON
In 232 head to head games with Los Angeles, the Flames are 117-89-26. This is the third of five games between these teams this year. The home team has won every game between them so far this season.
KNOW THY ENEMY
Some Kings follows for tonight’s contest:
MAGIC NUMBERS
The Flames enter tonight’s game with a magic number of 8. A regulation win drops their magic number to 6, and basically puts the Kings on the ropes. (Los Angeles plays in Edmonton on Monday, and Calgary’s magic number could conceivably drop even further.)
SUM IT UP
It’s the Flames’ second of four big games with Los Angeles during their stretch drive. They showed up big-time in their last meeting with the Kings and gave themselves some much-needed breathing room. They can take away the Kings’ breathing room with another strong performance tonight.
If that’s Wideman, it goes high and wide 🙂
Nice slapper by Stone chases Quick from the net
Man Ferland not playing really messes with the lines. I didn’t like the whole Chiasson with Gaudreau and Monahan experiment. Huge game and ferland being out really sucks. Chiasson better be ready to throw the body around.
What a snipe from Monny!
Yeah! Show’em the Monny!
Sure good to have Stone back. Also noticed that Chaser is playing well with Monny/Johnny. And we dodged a bullet with the Jeff Carter shot that hit the post.
For those worried about Johnny and Monny without Ferland..I think they’ll be okay
In Garys fickled world of parity and loser points, there is one more tool at his disposal to ensure that maximum number of teams are in it to the bitter end.That would be the officials,and in to-nites game Gary will be rooting for the Kings to remain in the picture.Flames will need to score early.
to-nites? This post reads like a flat earth believer.
Am I the only one who misses the old FN layout?
The first person to like it gets a Brouwer jersey
Flames official site says Ferland has been feeling sick and will be a game time decision. It has Chiasson up with Gaudreau and Monahan, Stajan centering Versteeg/Brouwer, and Bennett centering Lazar/Bouma. Don’t know what to make of that.
Would be interesting to see Lazar (although obviously hope Ferland is ok) and whilst probably not the game I also want to see Andersson get some game time.
If that’s the case, I’m not holding my breath for a win. All the player/line changes will have players playing tentative, over-thinking.
Ferland under observation for the mumps.
Fuuu…
“Stajan, grab onto this chain! Oh, by the way, theres an anchor tied to it. See you at the bottom!”
I’m actually excited about Lazar. Still kinda shiny!
Apologies for the line confusion, folks. Been out and wireless is spotty. Finally updated! 🙂
So given the personnel on the ice: the Brouwer line, Bart & Engelland, it’s not surprising that they’re running around…
Nice shift by Bennett, Lazar and Stajan.
Any guesses as to what Brouwers corsi will be tonight? It shouldn’t be too hard for someone to get it right as it’s a very narrow range to pick from.
He will have negative corsi tonight.
Versteeg finally gets the ENG and Lazar gets his first assist with the Flames.
And Lazar matches his point total from Ottawa in his first game. Now maybe we can finally take Brouwer out.
Why are there some posts near the top that were posted only a few minutes ago, new site really needs some upgrading. GFG
I really think the format of this new site is terrible
Those would be replies to earlier posts. The new site was design to be counter-intuitive
The vertical line at the side means that it’s a reply to the comment above it. It keeps the thread together instead of requiring people to post the quote of what they are responding to. It’d used on reddit and I love the format there, but for some reason it’s just not working out as well here.
Lomberg signs two-way contract. I LOVE the way that guy plays.
Stanley Cups are won with your top players producing and your bottom 6 guys contributing as well….I can imagine a future 4th line of Lomberg/Bennett/Hathaway. High energy, bangers, crashers, top speed, relentless effort!
That was Brouwer’s man
Yeah that looks like an elbow to the face by Tkachuk on Doughty
Tkachuk didn’t Elbow him he popped him with his shoulder. The impact was way too high for an elbow from behind, hence why there was no penalty.
How is that not a God damn elbowing penalty? Refs suck!!!
Nope…Lady Byng wouldn’t do that…..
WW
Got to admire Tkachuk sending a message to some wily veterans .
It’s ok boys. The King of the Rink Ram got scored on twice during the commercial break.
Atta boy, can’t deny Steeger his goal after an effort like that!
11 wins in row for Brian Elliott! Flames win game number 41 and just passed the Deadmonton Soilers again!
Go LA !!!!
Ha! Why bother?