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FGD 15: Hitting the reset button in Vancouver (8pm MT, SN One)

Photo credit: Terrence Lee/USA Today Sports
For the third time this week, the Calgary Flames (7-6-1, 15 points) are playing the Vancouver Canucks (7-11-0, 14 points) at Rogers Arena. The Canucks were as good on Saturday as the Flames were bad, with the Canucks out-shooting and out-chancing the Flames in every period and game situation. The Flames will hope to reset and salvage two out of three wins from their week in Vancouver.
The puck drops just after 8 p.m. MT and you can catch the action on Sportsnet One or on Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
For a view from the other side, visit the fine folks over at Canucks Army!
The Flames
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Tkachuk – Lindholm – Mangiapane
Gaudreau – Monahan – Simon
Lucic – Bennett – Dube
Nordstrom – Froese – Robinson
Gaudreau – Monahan – Simon
Lucic – Bennett – Dube
Nordstrom – Froese – Robinson
Giordano – Valimaki
Hanifin – Tanev
Mackey – Andersson
Hanifin – Tanev
Mackey – Andersson
Updated lines after warm-up!
Jacob Markstrom is tonight’s confirmed starter, backed up by David Rittich. Beyond that, everything’s a game-time decision. Dominik Simon probably comes in for an injured (day-to-day) Mikael Backlund, with Brett Ritchie and Nikita Nesterov scratches. The taxi squad is Louis Domingue, Connor Mackey, Oliver Kylington, Glenn Gawdin, Zac Rinaldo and Buddy Robinson, with Mackey likely being activated for the game.
The Flames will be looking to find some consistency, and they’ll be looking for it without the services of their most consistent two-way player, Backlund. So their best line won’t be intact, which could lead to other changes. Needless to say, the team’s execution was way off on Saturday and the only thing that was worth a damn was Markstrom. So… nowhere to go but up, eh?
The Canucks
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Boeser – Pettersson – Miller
Pearson – Horvat – Hoglander
Roussel – Gaudette – Sutter
Eriksson – Beagle – Virtanen
Pearson – Horvat – Hoglander
Roussel – Gaudette – Sutter
Eriksson – Beagle – Virtanen
Edler – Schmidt
Juolevi – Myers
Hughes – Benn
Juolevi – Myers
Hughes – Benn
Tkatcher Demko starts for the Canucks, backed up by Braden Holtby. Their active extras are Jalen Chatfield and Zach MacEwen. Their taxi squad is Michael DiPietro, Guillaume Brisebois, Jack Rathbone, Brogan Rafferty and Marc Michaelis.
Expect no changes for Vancouver, as they were really good on Saturday. They played smart and with good structure in all three zones. The big question is: can they be consistent and find a way to build upon that strong outing?
The numbers
Calgary | Vancouver | |
Wins | 7 | 7 |
Points (%) | 15 (.536) | 14 (.389) |
Adjusted Corsi For | 50.5% | 47.6% |
Expected Goals | 53.2% | 47.2% |
Power Play | 21.8% | 15.9% |
Penalty Kill | 80.9% | 82.2% |
The drive to 65
If you peruse most standings projections, it becomes apparent that 65 points probably gets you into the playoffs. That’s a 32-23-1 record, or thereabouts, or a .580 points percentage.
The Flames have a 7-6-1 record, 15 points, and a .536 points percentage. They need 50 more points to punch their ticket to the post-season, the equivalent of a .595 points percentage over the remaining 42 games.
Unfit to play report
The Flames are without Derek Ryan and Mikael Backlund.
The Canucks are without Justin Bailey, Tyler Motte, Travis Hamonic, Micheal Ferland and Jayce Hawryluk.
When last we met
The Flames have beaten Vancouver three times this season – by scores of 3-0, 5-2 and 3-1 – but lost 3-1 on Saturday.
Know thy enemy
Your recommended Twitter follows for tonight’s contest:
Breaking News
- Instant Reaction: Flames grind out road win in Los Angeles
- Flames Game Day 33: Escape to L.A. (8pm MT, CBC/SN/City)
- Wranglers Series Preview: A back to back reset against the Abbotsford Canucks
- NHL Notebook: Canucks trade Quinn Hughes to Wild
- Cole Reschny is poised to make Team Canada’s final World Junior roster
