After losing three games in a row, the Flames need a win to keep their season alive.
Calgary Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche
Game 5 of the Best-of-Seven Western Conference Quarterfinal
Colorado leads series 3-1
Puck Drop: 8 p.m. MT
TV: CBC, Sportsnet (national feed)
Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan
Odds: The Flames are slight (-170) favourites, via OddsShark.
Colorado leads series 3-1
Puck Drop: 8 p.m. MT
TV: CBC, Sportsnet (national feed)
Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan
Odds: The Flames are slight (-170) favourites, via OddsShark.
The Flames
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Gaudreau – Monahan – Bennett
Tkachuk – Backlund – Lindholm
Frolik – Jankowski – Czarnik
Mangiapane – Ryan – Hathaway
Tkachuk – Backlund – Lindholm
Frolik – Jankowski – Czarnik
Mangiapane – Ryan – Hathaway
Giordano – Brodie
Hanifin – Hamonic
Valimaki – Andersson
Hanifin – Hamonic
Valimaki – Andersson
Mike Smith starts for the Flames, backed up by David Rittich. Their projected scratches appear to be Jon Gillies, Oliver Kylington, Oscar Fantenberg, Dalton Prout, Michael Stone, Dillon Dube, Alan Quine and James Neal. There’s a bit of a line shuffle, and Austin Czarnik slides in.
The Flames have been out-scored 7-5 at even strength and their special teams have been a wash – the Flames have five power play goals, but have allowed three Colorado PP goals and two shorthanded markers. Their even strength goals have been scored by Sean Monahan, Matthew Tkachuk, TJ Brodie, Andrew Mangiapane and Derek Ryan.
It’s safe to say that the Flames need to get more out of their top guys. Five even strength goals in four goals is pretty rough.
The Avalanche
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Landeskog – MacKinnon – Kerfoot
Wilson – Soderberg – Rantanen
Nieto – Calvert – Compher
Andrighetto – Jost – Bourque
Wilson – Soderberg – Rantanen
Nieto – Calvert – Compher
Andrighetto – Jost – Bourque
Cole – Johnson
Zadorov – Barrie
Makar – Nemeth
Zadorov – Barrie
Makar – Nemeth
Philipp Grubauer starts once again for the Avalanche, backed up by Semyon Varlamov. Their projected scratches are Pavel Francouz, Dominic Toninato, Derick Brassard, Ryan Graves and Mark Barberio. There are no lineup changes for Colorado, and Mikko Rantanen will be used on both of the top two forward lines.
The Avalanche have gotten even strength goals from J.T. Compher (twice), Rantanen (twice), Nathan MacKinnon, Erik Johnson and Cale Makar. Their key players have won the head-to-head battles with the Flames’ top guys – often the board and corner battles, too – and functionally that’s why they’re in a position to advance with a win.
The Officials
Tonight’s referees are Kyle Rehman and Chris Rooney. The linesmen are Derek Amell and Andrew Smith. The standby officials are Jean Hebert (referee) and Darren Gibbs (linesman). The series supervisor is Bill McCreary.
The Numbers
CGY | COL | |
Wins | 1 | 3 |
Adjusted Corsi | 44.1% | 55.9% |
Power Play | 26.3% | 15.0% |
Penalty Kill | 85.0% | 73.7% |
Injury Report
The Flames are healthy.
The Avalanche are without Vladislav Kamenev and Samuel Girard.
Know Thy Enemy
Your Avalanche Twitter follows for tonight:
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