FGD 35: Welcome back, Dougie Hamilton (2pm MT, SN West)
By Ryan Pike
4 years agoIn the throes of a seven game winning streak, the Calgary Flames (18-12-4, 40 points) are rolling out the red carpet as they welcome back Dougie Hamilton and the Carolina Hurricanes (19-11-2, 40 points) to the palatial confines of the Scotiabank Saddledome for an afternoon tilt. Can the Flames keep the emotion of the occasion at bay and continue their winning ways?
The puck drops just after 2 p.m. MT on Sportsnet West and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
The Flames
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Tkachuk – Lindholm – Mangiapane
Monahan – Backlund – Dube
Lucic – Ryan – Gaudreau
Rieder – Jankowski – Frolik
Monahan – Backlund – Dube
Lucic – Ryan – Gaudreau
Rieder – Jankowski – Frolik
Giordano – Brodie
Hanifin – Hamonic
Kylington – Andersson
Hanifin – Hamonic
Kylington – Andersson
David Rittich starts, backed up by Cam Talbot. The expected scratches are Michael Stone and Zac Rinaldo. No lineup changes for the Flames after their 4-2 victory over Toronto on Thursday night.
The Flames have won seven of their last seven games and have points in each of their last nine outings. Not bad for a team that had a six game skid preceding that. The secret for the Flames has been keeping it simple and playing smart, structured defensive hockey. Have they been perfect? Oh, heck no. But they’ve been so much better than they were under their prior coach.
The Hurricanes
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Svechnikov – Staal – Foegele
Niederreiter – Aho – Teravainen
Dzingel – Wallmark – Necas
McGinn – Martinook – Gauthier
Niederreiter – Aho – Teravainen
Dzingel – Wallmark – Necas
McGinn – Martinook – Gauthier
Slavin – Dougie Hamilton
Edmundson – Pesce
Gardiner – van Riemsdyk
Edmundson – Pesce
Gardiner – van Riemsdyk
James Reimer starts for Carolina, backed up by Petr Mrazek. Haydn Fleury, the former Red Deer Rebels star, is the extra healthy body on the trip for Carolina.
If you’re looking for an Eastern Conference team to cheer for, may we suggest the Hurricanes? In addition to having Dougie Hamilton on their roster, they have a really fun mix of talented youngsters and wily veterans. They’re fast. They’re deep. And Rod Brind’Amour has them motivated and having fun.
The Numbers
| Flames | Hurricanes | |
| Wins | 18 | 19 |
| Points | 40 | 40 |
| Adjusted Corsi | 50.4% | 55.4% |
| Power Play | 18.3% | 22.8% |
| Penalty Kill | 84.1% | 86.0% |
Injury Report
The Flames are without F Sam Bennett (upper body), D Juuso Valimaki (ACL surgery) and F Austin Czarnik (lower body).
The Hurricanes are missing F Erik Haula (knee).
When Last We Met
The Flames lost to Carolina 2-1 in Raleigh at the end of October. You remember that one: Svechnikov scored the Lacrosse Goal. Today’s game closes out their season series.
Know Thy Enemy
Here are some key Twitter follows for today’s game:
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