FGD 41: A holiday visit from Vancouver (7:30pm MT, SN West/360/1)
By Ryan Pike
4 years agoFollowing a triumph in Edmonton, the Calgary Flames (20-15-5, 45 points) are back at home and welcoming another old rival to town. The Vancouver Canucks (20-15-4, 44 points) are a skilled, energetic bunch fresh off beating the Los Angeles Kings in Vancouver on Saturday night.
The puck drops just after 7:30 p.m. MT on Sportsnet West/360/One and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
For a view from the other side, check out Canucks Army!
The Flames
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Tkachuk – Lindholm – Mangiapane
Monahan – Backlund – Gaudreau
Lucic – Ryan – Dube
Jankowski – Rieder – Frolik
Monahan – Backlund – Gaudreau
Lucic – Ryan – Dube
Jankowski – Rieder – Frolik
Giordano – Brodie
Hanifin – Hamonic
Kylington – Andersson
Hanifin – Hamonic
Kylington – Andersson
David Rittich starts, backed up by Cam Talbot. Today’s projected scratches are Michael Stone, Sam Bennett and Zac Rinaldo. (It’s looking like Bennett out and Mark Jankowski in for tonight.)
Aside from some minor shuffling on the fourth line, the Flames are rolling with largely the same lineup. Keep an eye on the fourth line: the trio of Bennett, Frolik and Rieder spent more time against Connor McDavid on Friday night and held him off the scoresheet, out-chancing McDavid 4-0 head-to-head.
The Flames feel like they’re rounding into form, with Rieder noting after Sunday’s morning skate that everyone’s focusing on doing their roles well and trusting everyone to do their jobs. Rather than everyone trying to do too much, the new approach seems to be working.
The Canucks
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Miller – Pettersson – Boeser
Pearson – Horvat – Eriksson
Roussel – Gaudette – Virtanen
Schaller – Beagle – Motte
Pearson – Horvat – Eriksson
Roussel – Gaudette – Virtanen
Schaller – Beagle – Motte
Hughes – Tanev
Edler – Stecher
Fantenberg – Myers
Edler – Stecher
Fantenberg – Myers
Jacob Markstrom likely starts for the Canucks, backed up by Thatcher Demko. Jordie Benn and Zack MacEwan were the scratches last night against the Kings; potentially one or both could rotate in tonight.
Update: Demko starts for Vancouver, otherwise zero changes from Saturday’s Canucks lineup.
The Canucks played fairly well last night, but they had a few defensive lapses that allowed the Kings to make it a competitive evening. That said, they’re a talented group that’s never an easy out and is neck and neck with the Flames midway through the season.
If the Flames want to get a pair of points, it would behoove them to have a similarly strong start as they did against Edmonton.
The Numbers
| Flames | Canucks | |
| Wins | 20 | 19 |
| Points | 45 | 42 |
| Adjusted Corsi | 50.2% | 50.2% |
| Power Play | 19.5% | 26.1% |
| Penalty Kill | 85.0% | 79.8% |
Injury Report
The Flames are without D Juuso Valimaki (ACL surgery).
The Canucks are missing F Micheal Ferland (upper body), F Josh Leivo (knee), F Brandon Sutter (upper body) and F Tyler Graovac (lower body).
When Last We Met
This is Game 2 of 4 between these clubs this season. The Flames shut out Vancouver 3-0 in their home opener back in early October.
Know Thy Enemy
Here are some key Twitter peeps to follow for tonight:
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