The Calgary Flames (10-6-1, 21 points) have shown flashes of brilliance through the first 20% of this season. Tonight, we may discover if they’re actually a good hockey team when they face arguably the top Pacific Division squad, the San Jose Sharks (8-6-3, 19 points) in the second half of a back-to-back.
The puck drops at 7 p.m. MT on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
The Flames
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Gaudreau – Monahan – Lindholm
Tkachuk – Backlund – Neal
Bennett – Ryan – Frolik
Hathaway – Jankowski – Czarnik
Giordano – Brodie
Hanifin – Hamonic
Valimaki – Stone
Mike Smith makes the start, backed up by David Rittich. The healthy scratches look to be Anthony Peluso, Rasmus Andersson and Dalton Prout, with Michael Stone swapping in for Andersson (per Derek Wills). It’s a big game for Smith, who hasn’t been overly sharp during the last few weeks while Rittich has been the sharpest we’ve ever seen him.
This game is what’s known as a “schedule loss,” in that the Sharks have been waiting for the Flames while they’ve traveled. But the Sharks haven’t been overly great lately and the Flames have been playing some of their best hockey of the season.
All season, our staff Slack chat has had a consistent question pop up: “Are these guys actually good?” We’ve seen the Flames play really good hockey on and off over the last three seasons, but the consistency just hasn’t been there – especially in situations like this, playing divisional rivals at the end of road trips. This is the type of game good teams, teams with the intentions of making noise in the post-season, find a way to win. Almost as much as their response to the 9-1 Pittsburgh shellacking eight games ago, this game will tell us a whole lot about the 2018-19 Flames.
The Sharks
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Kane – Pavelski – Donskoi
Meier – Couture – Hertl
Sorensen – Thornton – LaBanc
Suomela – Suomela – M.Karlsson
Ryan – Burns
Dillon – E.Karlsson
Vlasic – Braun
Martin Jones starts, backed up by Aaron Dell. The extras look to be Rourke Chartier, Radim Simek and Tim Heed. It sounds like Tomas Hertl returns after missing a few games due to injury.
The Sharks have been idle since a back-to-back set of road games on Thursday and Friday that saw them lose to Dallas (4-3 on Thursday) and St. Louis (4-0 on Friday). Their defensive game hasn’t been amazing and, thus far, they haven’t gelled the way you’d hope a team with as many strong players would. But the Sharks are a proud group and they’ll know the importance of a strong showing against a divisional rival, so expect them to come out of the gates with a lot of gusto tonight.
The Numbers
| CGY | SJS | |
| Wins | 10 | 8 |
| Points | 21 | 19 |
| Corsi Close | 54.7% | 57.5% |
| Power Play | 17.2% | 18.5% |
| Penalty Kill | 75.0% | 87.7% |
Injury Report
The Flames are without Dillon Dube, who’s working through the concussion protocol.
The Sharks are healthy.
Season Series
This is the first of four meetings between these two clubs this season. The next time they’ll meet is New Year’s Eve in Calgary.
Know Thy Enemy
Your Sharks Twitter follows for tonight:
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I really hope something happens with Neal and that second line. Not sure how the chemistry is going, but Bennett Ryan Frolik looked good.
Offensively, Backs is letting that line down right now. Just a little soft and unrefined up there. Defensively, hard to complain too much about his play.
Backlund is not a 2nd line center, he is a checker not a scorer.
I think that line has looked way better with Frolik. Backlund needs to finish more, but aside from his game last night, I’m not sure he’s been that bad. His breakaway move last night was great, he just needs to find a way to start finishing.
And I get that he isn’t a second line offensive juggernaut. That would be nice. But I feel like he’s remarkably underrated as a playmaker, no?
Does it matter what the line is called 2nd or 3rd checking line? Backs line has been doing a great job on opp. top lines. What everyone means is that the Flames need a second scoring line. The Bennett/Centre/Frolik-Neal line hopefully. Frolik belongs with Backs line and Peters will change back to that after this road trip.
Frolik and Backlund are 3rd liners. Lindholm and Monahan need to be split up and be the 1-2 centers, or Bennett needs to be put at center. Get Tkchuck away from Frolik and Backlund. When Dube is healthy, have him play with them. Learn the trade. In fact I’d even go so far to say have a Dube Backlund Czarnik 3Rd line. It’s time to cut the dead weight of Frolik, Stone, Smith,
Backlund doesn’t finish because he is soft. I so wish Jankowski takes a big step this year. Backlund is bringing down Tkachuk. Love that Tkachuk is defensively sound but he needs to be with a more creative hard working centre. Backlund will not venture anywhere near contact to make a play. Backlund is one of the softest players in the league.
Not meaning to pile on but seriously these last two games have not been good for Backlund
Like anybody when they try to do too much they look bad. Peters took Neal off his line and he has looked better the last few shifts.
Neal looks really, really bad.
That’s an understatement.
Feel flames should have had at least one PP the last 10min
I think there was a memo sent out saying Calgary is not allowed app
Suprised Andersson is coming out of the lineup thought he’s played well against these heavier California teams. Maybe Stone is being showcased for a trade down the line?
I nailed it! I posted in previous blog that Peters was grousing about the lack of physicality on the Flames after last night’s game and I said Stone will be back in the lineup against the Sharks. I expected Hanifin to sit based on his shaky play though, not Andersson.
Seems like an odd decision, Andersson has been good. He handles the puck well and makes good passes out of the their zone.
Congratulations on the win NHL officials. Another fine sequence by the worst officials in pro sports. 3 missed calls in the last 2 minutes of a game. How is that delay of game call missed at the very least. It was so obvious. Kane slashing and Burns tripping WTF?
Plus the bulls%#^* call on Gio as well , these refs are an absolute Joke!!! There’s like 5 of these morons out there and they still suck!!!
I’m pretty sure there are 4 officials Carl. Stop counting your fingers..
I know there’s 4 ,but if the refs were counting they would get it wrong .
Personally I find the refs have truly ruined the experience as a fan watching hockey. Too inconsistent. Especially the lack of standards in the playoffs.
Smith has to stop flopping like a fish out of water. He’s been a hot and cold goalie his whole career only thing is this year he’s been very cold. Tonight is a big measuring stick for how good a team we are but ultimately you can’t measure with weak goaltending. Let’s hope Smith gets hot and we can run 2 alternating goalies and win the pacific.
Where has this Mike Smith been all year? Wow.
It seems to me that he needs high volume of shots to excel… would be interesting to see stats on this… but the games that Calgary outshoots and suppresses shots he seems to struggle
Yeah I agree. I have noticed that too watching him over the years.
these refs are a joke
There’s way too much loyalty in putting Smith in, Rittich has been the better of the two so you go with the hot hand until Rittch falters. Smith hasn’t done anything to deserve to be in there. Also the back to back is a moot point as Rittich wasn’t overly tested last night.
Absolutely agree. The one trash has to be Smiths mom because he in no way deserves this start.
Agreed with Kelly Hrudy last night, Riddich hasn’t been over worked, let Smith get more practice time. Go with Rittich.
RKD there is no doubt in my mind this is the last straw for smith. Very heavy straw I might add he falters in this one he won’t see the net for a while as long as Rittich plays well.
Ive been crapping on Smith all season but hes just made a couple ten bell saves heres hoping this is the game the gets him going flames aren’t going far without him
You have to admit that the team is giving Smith an opportunity to find his game.
Peter’s needs to light a fire under this team
Might be tough. They played a heavy team last night and had to fight hard for the win.
Peter’s got this.
Yes sir!
That’s my line. Haha
Flames need to wake up
We got this
Yes sir!
That’s my line
Yes sir!
The refereeing was extremely poor tonight. Gio’s penalty on Pavelski, the missed calls against Hamonic and the Kane over the glass… brutal.
The missed call on pavelski in the first minute of the game just before the sharks scored…
I realize that we need to get Stone some minutes but what do you tell Ras who had a great game. If the the Flames win then Ras likely stays out another game despite playing really well. It is tough to be a coach.
Stone has been idle too long. They let him play a slower team (not too slow but slower) and put Ras in for the high flying Montreal squad Thursday. Only reason this makes sense to me
A conditioning stint in Stocton wouldnt hurt Stone either.
The problem lies in that we have 8D, 5 of who play on the right side. Stone is useless on LD, so he’s never replace Hanifin or Valimaki for a game. Key stat here; last game with Stone in lineup was a 9-1 loss to PITTS. Another one, CGY 5-1-1 wth Stone eating popcorn.
Remember when we traded for stone we won 10 in a row lol
I totally forgot about that. Yeah, that was a good run we had. He was a like a lucky rabbit’s foot.
my thought is that perhaps he’s tired. I know they are all professionals and in great shape, but playing 2 games in 24 hours has got to be pretty rough. And as stated before, If you are rotating Stone in you cant take off gio/hanifin/vali on the left and if you have to choose between brodie/hamonic/Anderson, it makes sense to sit the rookie.
Players regularly play back-to-back games in the AHL. That is a poor excuse if that is indeed what is being said. But with Stone getting the theater treatment (popcorn) it makes sense to put him in.
On a separate note, Prout should be in Stockton.
If only they gave us a reason as for why. Then we wouldn’t have to speculate.
Last night there was a comment that Peters had some type of cold. If that is the case and it goes around the club it is quite possible that there could be a series of unexplained days off. Sometimes it comes down to who can give the best level on a particular day and sickness can get to even the best conditioned athletes.
Should have sat Brodie. Slid Andersson up to play with Gio.
I’d be ok if Brodie sat out a game or two. While he has shown signs of his former self lately, there were still a couple cringe-worthy moments in LA.
The win against the Kings was one of the more complete games this team has put together. They’ll need that same effort and likely more to beat the Sharks.
I am still one of those in the camp hoping that Smith can regain his form in short order. He was a top 10 goalie at this time last year, and I struggle to believe that he can completely lose his game after only a year. He needs to calm down, focus, and quit trying to do so much. Stay in position and play smart.
And slap a Shark or two if they get close enough. Seems like he’s at his best when he plays feisty.
And unfortunately when he faces a high volume of shots
I’ve been watching Salmon spawning lately at Goldstream Provincial Park, close to Victoria.
It’s quite miraculous how they fight the current, journeying sometimes over 1,000 km away, just to lay eggs and die. In between the journey, they navigate their way past riffles and chutes, until they arrive at a familiar stretch of riverbed to guide them to the place they were born. All guided by scent.
It’s also quite the sight to watch Bald Eagles feast on the spoils, all part of the ecosystem cycle.
Smith hasn’t been the goalie we hoped for this season. He seems to be fighting the current, laying eggs ( if you will) and the opposition has been feasting on him.
In all cycles, there’s good and bad. From an observer’s point of view it can look bad. Dead scales everywhere.
But from another viewpoint, it’s provided birth for a new generation.
Is Smith done? Highly doubtful.
I’m not suggesting he will be the saviour, however when your options are limited, you make choices. He HAS to find his game. We’re in a pickle over it, but it’s the truth. When you try to fight harder, you tend to overplay, over think and fail to be your own- self. That’s what we’re noticing from Smith. He’s looking tired, off balance and out of sorts. He WANTS to win so much, that he’s fighting against what made him successful.
In the meantime, Rittich has become the new generation, in his absence. That’s never a bad thing.
But everything is in cycles, and as fans we need to remember that. Goalies have them. Players have them. We have them.
Let’s try not to get too worked up on whether or not Smith should just give up. He’s a warrior who’s struggling, however he’s also the guy who looked brilliant up until his injury last season.
Patience is never fun when you’re a fan, however it might best in this scenario..
Great, now Mrs. SF wants fish for dinner.
Haha, I love Deans reply.
Well played sir!
is it deanthevirgin or deannotthevirgin?
Ya…Cracked me up
I first visited Goldstream in The Summer Of ’79. Still one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. Almost lost my virginity there… maybe that’s why still have a fondness for the place.
Smith brought us out of a dark time last season, beginning with his MVP caliber play last Fall. it looked like he was The One, he’d take us to the Promised Land. Maybe that’s why so many of us still have a fondness.
But time marches on. The girl of my dreams had dreams of her own. She went with another fella.
Patience isn’t something you consider when you’re a virgin, or when every win counts so much in the Western Conference.
I’m ready to move on, and accept another fella as the goalie of my dreams.
I’d like to believe that, but I don’t see Smith suddenly finding his game again. This isn’t a mental thing, it’s a guy who time has caught up to. We’re not watching a guy who is struggling to find his form, we’re watching a guy who has lost the natural ability to be good at his posistion.
Sometimes people living on VI get all metaphysical and see things that might not be there. Hopefully the Skarks aren’t Eagles and the scales stay away from Smith’s eyes.
I am quite shocked by how much hate Brodie still gets. He has been really solid since the 9-1 game and has played his best hockey in the last 2 years throughout this stretch. He takes all the heat while Hanifin, who has been struggling takes no heat. I am not saying he needs to sit, because that pair of Hanifin and Hamonic has been good. But lets not ignore the problems. Brodie isn’t a problem right now, he is playing good hockey
Man. Can’t put this one on Smith no matter how you spin it, even with the first goal.
Neal is such a bad match for Backs and Tkachuk (Backs especially), so when it fails, somehow it is Neal’s fault.
Neal with Jg and either Lind or Monahan has been magic when they need it, and no sign of that happening. Leave a career sniper on the bench late when you need a goal, but throw out Ryan with Gaudreau.
Now that makes sense.
Ryan has scored 20+ goals 10 years in a row. Thats why he is on and not neal…….
BS Sky Neal has done nothing but float. I gave him a few wks due to a long playoff run last spring but enough is enough his give a sh!t meter is right with the great Brouwer
That should have been a penalty on Kane these refs suck.
I’ve never seen such a poorly officiated game like this before. Absolutely terrible
I have and it’s really too bad I can say that it won’t be the last time.
The Karlsson trade has been a complete bust so far, 15GP 0G 7A and a -8. He’s not the captain there and definitely doens’t seem to be a fit unless he can turn things around. Wilson gave up: Chris Tierney, Dylan DeMelo,Josh Norris, Rūdolfs Balcers, First-round pick (2019 or 2020), Second-round pick (2019),Conditional second-round pick (2021),Conditional first-round pick (no later than 2022) for a guy who can leave on July 1st, 2019.
All sudden Hamonic trade looks good !
I genuinely hope it is a bust. Karlsson is too good a player to be in a slump for long. If he walks, not only do the Sharks lose a very good player, but everything they gave Ottawa will be for naught. I hope he signs somewhere in the east. Maybe Tampa Bay this time
It would be pretty damn hilarious if he walked back to Ottawa. He said the family really loved Ottawa. IMO Karlsson hasn’t been the same since his injury last season. Yes, we all hope he goes down east!
A bust? It’s still early. I’d take Karlsson over the pieces they gave up.
That’s why i said so far it is early.