FGD 11: A Capital challenge (7pm MT, SN Flames)

After escaping the O.C. with two points, the Calgary Flames (5-4-1, 11 points) are back home for a short home stand. Tonight they welcome the Washington Capitals (6-2-2, 14 points) to town, hoping to show that their awful game against Los Angeles was the exception and not the rule.

The puck drops at 7 p.m. MT on Sportsnet Flames and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.

Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:

Cam Talbot starts for the Flames, backed up by David Rittich. Andrew Mangiapane slots back in after missing the California trip. Oliver Kylington is the lone healthy scratch, as Sam Bennett will sit out with his short-term injury. And yes, the fourth line has a cap hit of over $11 million.

If you ignore the Los Angeles debacle, the Flames have played good games (out of their last five) dating back to their game in San Jose. If only they could start games strong, find some consistency, and stay out of the penalty box. 10 games in, they’re the most-penalized team in hockey.

Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:

Coming off a win against Chicago, Braden Holtby starts for Washington (backed up by Ilya Samsonov). The extras are Travis Boyd and Tyler Lewington. Expect some manner of video package during a TV timeout to commemorate the return of Garnet Hathaway to Calgary.

The Capitals are, in a word, good. They’re fast, deep, talented and have scored on over a quarter of their power play opportunities. So, uh, maybe stay out of the box tonight.

The Flames are without D Juuso Valimaki (ACL surgery) and F Sam Bennett (undisclosed).

The Capitals are missing F Richard Panik (upper body).

The Flames played Washington twice last season and lost each meeting by a 4-3 score – one of them was in a shootout. They last met on Feb. 1 in D.C. and lost in regulation.

Here are some key Twitter peeps to follow for tonight: