After winning three times on their four game road trip, the Calgary Flames (27-13-4, 58 points) are back at home. They kick off a lengthy five game homestand tonight at the Saddledome against the Colorado Avalanche (20-15-8, 48 points), who lost last night in Winnipeg.
The action kicks off at 7:30 p.m. MT on Sportsnet West and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
The Flames
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Gaudreau – Monahan – Lindholm
Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik
Bennett – Jankowski – Neal
Hathaway – Ryan – Czarnik
Giordano – Brodie
Hanifin – Hamonic
Prout – Andersson
David Rittich starts for the 23rd time this season for the Flames, backed up by Mike Smith. Oliver Kylington and Andrew Mangiapane are the projected scratches. The team’s reliable shutdown trio (the 3M Line) reunites for a game against arguably the NHL’s top trio, while Kylington sits after sitting for the final 34 minutes of Monday’s game in Chicago. Dalton Prout comes back in, perhaps as an evaluation tool (as the Flames have been oft-rumoured to be looking for left sidedepth on the blueline).
The Flames haven’t played a full 60 minutes in a few games. The good news is they’ve been good enough to win despite that, as they’re a team with a lot of offensive weapons that can tilt a game seemingly at the drop of a hat. But you have to think that Bill Peters wants more from his club, particularly some in-game consistency and better starts.
The Avalanche are going to be an ornery bunch after giving up a touchdown in Winnipeg last evening, so a good start for the Flames might be very important to getting another two points.
The Avalanche
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Landeskog – MacKinnon – Rantanen
Jost – Kerfoot – Compher
Nieto – Soderberg – Calvert
Andrighetto – Dries – O’Connor
Girard – Johnson
Cole – Barrie
Graves – Nemeth
Since Philipp Grubauer started in Winnipeg, expect Semyon Varlamov to start tonight against the Flames. The healthy scratch last night was Gabriel Bourque, so expect him to rotate back in most likely.
The Avalanche played the Jets last night. Their special teams were found wanting, as they gave up three power play goals and a shorthanded goal to the Jets. Colorado out-shot Winnipeg 41-21, but the special teams performances were the big difference.
Colorado isn’t as terrifying as they once were, but that top line is legit. Expect an interesting chess match as the Flames try to negate them.
The Numbers
| CGY | COL | |
| Wins | 27 | 20 |
| Points | 58 | 48 |
| Corsi Close | 53.2% | 49.5% |
| Power Play | 21.0% | 26.5% |
| Penalty Kill | 78.1% | 75.8% |
Injury Report
The Flames are without Juuso Valimaki and Michael Stone.
The Avalanche are without Mark Barberio, Vladislav Kamenev, Nikita Zadorov and Colin Wilson.
Season Series
Tonight is the third and final game between these teams this season. The Flames beat Colorado 3-2 in overtime back in October and 6-5 back in November.
Know Thy Enemy
Your Avalanche Twitter follows for tonight:
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I realize why mess with a winning formula, but why not swap out fro and backs the sweet with janko and sam. get some 2nd scoring going, it DOES not happen with backlund there.
Can of the down voters explain what backs the sweet brings besides, “he checks the top guys”, he never scores, ever, and Jank an chack and score. backs was a waste of money, we could have duchene or stone right now instead of backs the kitten and neal the steal.
What do you mean he never scores, ever? Is English not your first language? Because you have a real poor grasp of it. Backlund has 9 goals, good for 5th best on the team.
That’s 10 goals now….
BaCkLuNd CaNt ScOrE
You’re just blabbering.
Lol…”the flames have come out flying this period, this is more their style of play”. 10 seconds later the shots are shown for the period….7-1 Colorado…..oh Hrudey your so awsome.
Thought you muted the TV broadcast and were listening the radio. Guess not. What else would you have to comment on?
Perhaps I should dig up a trade rumor that was discussed hours ago….condescending dink
You’re too easy. Just try talking hockey for a change.
Not as easy as your mom from what Ive heard….have you found your real daddy yet?
Comments about people’s mothers are a number of things, none of which are relevant on a hockey site. Can we agree to keep the conversations about hockey and if challenged keep the responses in the realm normally expected from adults?
” Yipee” he would say at that stat.
Who needs shots on goal when you can score by shooting 5 feet wide.
I know it’s only Eklund……but…..allegedly the Flames have made a good offer on Mats Zuccarello. Might be just Eklund click bait but what’s the consensus and who would the Flames give up?
Thanks tips….that was only brought up on here 4 hous ago.
What’s so great about Zucc?
16 goal scorer.
I hope we don’t give anything good up.
Neal maybe…..
WW
I’ve never been over impressed, he’s 31 years old and his cap is $4.5 MM so he’s not cheap either. Hopefully not a young guy if it does go through.
A 3rd
Baclund back to being Backlund….HIT THE NET!!!
WW
DOUCHE period IMPOSTER…
WW
Troll elsewhere!
Time for a shortie
This period imposter sh!t is getting old now man!
The Avs have been in freefall they’ve been losing a lot of games. What is Prout doing in the lineup? I hope we see Mangipane suit up for a game soon.
Can’t keep him on the bench forever. Otherwise he won’t be of any use if/when you really need him.
Backlund is actually looking like an NHL caliber player tonight.
WW
Suck it period IMPOSTER….
WW
Neal’s skating reminds me of old Jgar’s skating from last years flames team!
I understand about swapping out a rookie D for some correctable mistakes… But not so much, if our option is Prout. I really hope they are planning to play him the least possible minutes, and double up on Gio/Andy for the rest, like they did for much of last game.
Allegedly the Rangers are mulling over an offer from Calgary for Zuccarello
And allegedly a “great offer”
Where did you here this?
My buddy Conroy has confirmed with me that there is indeed an offer on the table from the Flames for said player. Who goes the other way?….hint…he is not in the lineup tonight and people have asked why….
WW
If Kyllington is going the other way it better be for more than a rental. That would be Chia type of ludicrous.
I normally trash WW comments, but I think hes on to something here.
Better be mangi
My buddy Walter claims otherwise, poser.
Period IMPOSTER.
WW
Seen it on hockeybuzz so who knows how true it is
What does he and his $4.5m contract and his 15 points bring to the Flames? Unless it’s Neal going back to the NYR I don’t really want him.
Proof?
Alleged sources??
I see it on Hockeybuzz which isn’t really reliable.
No idea what the package would be, but Zuccarello can be gotten for cheap. He’s having a down year due to the constant trade rumours in the past 12 months. If he can be gotten for a decent price then DAMN the Flames would have a forward corps that rivals in the Leafs in depth.
Prout looks out of place, I don’t blame him, practicing with the same team and not seeing game action would throw anyone off.
Have to think that as a professional and practicing with the team, he’d wouldn’t look out of place.
Gillies gives up 2 in 30 seconds with less than 2 minutes left. An empty netter keep the Gulls win streak alive. Heat lose 7-4
Neal scores tonight and the hex is lifted!
Somebody please tell Jobu to get in there and juice up the Real Deal with a healthy portion of Mojo!
GG stole the jobu doll from the dressing room when he left. Jobu needs personal access to Neal because there is alot of Mojo needed for that fella.
Neal has just been waiting for Lucic to score just to put some pressure on him….now we have a scoring race.
He has a ways to go before he matches the fearsome offensive force that is Troy Brouwer though.
Guaranteed: Smith doesn’t allow a goal tonight and that hex is lifted too.
Going to eat a hat if you are wrong? That’s what happens around here when people make guarantees…
I sure hope you’re right, cause that would mean BSD was either pulled or injured.
If he can get scoring again we can drop all the talk of looking for another winger for the playoff push.
You are the last person I expected to suggest that. If he let’s you down again you gonna double down on the hate?
Haha Wolf, that’s fair. I deserve it. 😉
Did I mention I might have a concussion? That would probably be my best excuse for the about-face!!!
Although if he doesn’t score imma gonna be pissed..
Is Kylington hurt? Or just sitting a game because of a poor performance?
Peters didn’t like the rookie pairing in the last road games. Not that Prout is better, but Kylington made a few glaring mistakes from trying to be too offensive. On another note, there is talk that PP2 will “more traditional”, with Czarnik-Janko-Neal and Brodie-Andersson. Not exactly sure of the setup, but you could put Czarnik or Janko in front with Neal setting up for one-timers. Also, having Andersson back there means there should be more shots from the blueline.
I would have Hanifin in there long before Brodie.
I have read nothing about an injury.
I saw somewhere BP was quoted as saying he was unhappy with 3rd pairing in Chicago so that’s why Prout is in to change things up. I also don’t think Peters likes to bench guys too often but that’s my own opinion.
Per Steinberg on the twittersphere:
“Coach Peters says he didn’t like the Kylington-Andersson pairing on the road trip, which is why Kylington comes out for Prout tonight.
Mangiapane won’t play tonight, but Peters says he wants to get him back in the lineup soon. “
Re Mangiapane, BP is probably waiting for Czarnik to cool off. Hope that doesn’t happen, as I really like CZ’d speed and drive lately. Just needs to get off that quick release shot of his to pop some goals.
I really liked Czarnik against Chicago. He couldn’t put the puck in the net, but he looked driven, fast, and was engaged in all areas of the ice.
Prout needed to play sometime; they need to see where he is at. Tonight is important for him as he will likely see some icetime against one of the top lines in the NHL. It should help BT and his staff determine what they need. This and the progress on Valimaki’s injury is vital. I don’t include Stone b/c I’m more concerned with his health than his hockey.
Doesn’t hurt Kylingron to sit a game
Looking for another highly entertaining game with lots of offense from the flames. My only worry is the first game back after a road trip hangover we get sometimes but BP has been excellent at minimizes those efforts. Best flames team in a very long time. Matching our top line against there top line will quite interesting to watch.
Sounds like BP revamped PP2. Its now
Czarnik Neal Jankowski
Brodie Andersson
I like this adjustment, although I would consider swapping Hanifin with Brodie. Is this when Andersson’s really starts to take off? I hope so.
I think Brodie has to be there in this config. However, I still think Frolik would do better than Czarnik with a little PP time.
I think that the idea of using Brodie is a good one. It gives us a bit more protection immediately following the power play, and it means that Hanifan and Hamonic are fresh to step on the ice for the next shift.
I think he is there to help Andersson gamble as he can use his speed to defend. Please Ras shoot the puck.
Hanifin has had trouble holding the line on the PP. Brodie is a bit smarter, but he’s there for his passing more than his shot. The good thing is that BP is trying out something other than Backlund, Bennett and Ryan.
The other thing not mentioned is this gives Brodie-Ras some reps as a pairing, since Prout will see 10 minutes or so. We’ve seen Gio-Ras in a limited view and it wasn’t bad.
Brodie brings some good puck handling skills, and Anderson has the big shot from the point. Meanwhile you have your true pairing of Hanifin and Hamonic ready to go after the PP ends.