FGD 47: A rematch with Montreal (5pm MT, SN West/City TV)
By Ryan Pike
3 years agoAfter an impressive win on Friday, the Calgary Flames (20-23-3, 43 points) will attempt to reel in a playoff spot, or at least inch closer, when they play the second of three games in a row against the Montreal Canadiens (20-16-9, 49 points). The Flames absolutely need regulation wins, and more efforts like the other night’s could get them there.
The puck drops just after 5 p.m. MT and you can catch the game on Sportsnet West and City TV or on Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
The Flames
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Gaudreau – Lindholm – Tkachuk
Mangiapane – Monahan – Dube
Lucic – Backlund – Nordstrom
n/a – Ryan – Ritchie
Mangiapane – Monahan – Dube
Lucic – Backlund – Nordstrom
n/a – Ryan – Ritchie
Giordano – Tanev
Hanifin – Andersson
Valimaki – Stone
Nesterov
Hanifin – Andersson
Valimaki – Stone
Nesterov
Jacob Markstrom starts, backed up by Louis Domingue. The projected extra is Buddy Robinson. The taxi squad is Artyom Zagidulin, Oliver Kylington, Zac Rinaldo, Byron Froese, Glenn Gawdin and Dominik Simon.
The Flames rolled with 11 forwards and seven defensemen last night in Josh Leivo’s absence – Darryl Sutter felt it would’ve been tough to throw Robinson in for Leivo – and it worked out pretty well, as the club just rolled forwards through their lines and seemed to catch the Habs off-guard with some interesting combinations. Expect the same set-up this evening.
The Canadiens
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Tatar – Danault – Anderson
Toffoli – Suzuki – Armia
Lehkonen – Kotkaniemi – Byron
xx – Staal – Perry
Toffoli – Suzuki – Armia
Lehkonen – Kotkaniemi – Byron
xx – Staal – Perry
Chiarot – Weber
Edmundson – Petry
Roman – Merrill
Gustafsson
Edmundson – Petry
Roman – Merrill
Gustafsson
The expectation right now is that Cayden Primeau starts for Montreal, backed up by Jake Allen. (We’ll update once Montreal has their availability today.) Their extras are Carey Price (injured), Jonathan Drouin (illness) and Brett Kulak. Their taxi squad is Charlie Lindgren, Xavier Oullett, Jake Evans, Cole Caufield and Michael Frolik.
Drouin was a late scratch last night due to a non-COVID illness, but he’s likely a question mark for tonight. Barring anything odd happening, it seems like we’ll see the Habs go 11 forwards, seven defensemen like they did last night.
The numbers
| Calgary | Montreal | |
| Wins | 20 | 20 |
| Points (%) | 43 (.467) | 49 (.544) |
| Adjusted Corsi For | 52.3% | 54.9% |
| Expected Goals For | 52.9% | 53.3% |
| Power Play | 20.0% | 18.9% |
| Penalty Kill | 80.9% | 77.2% |
Playoff hopes and dreams
The Flames’ tragic number is 7.5. Any combination of 7.5 Calgary losses and Montreal wins eliminates the Flames from playoff contention. Their magic number is 14.5. Any combination of 14.5 Flames wins and Montreal losses clinch the Flames a playoff spot.
Unfit to play report
The Flames are without Josh Leivo.
The Canadiens are without Carey Price and Brendan Gallagher.
When last we met
The Flames have won five of their first seven games against Montreal. Including tonight, they face Montreal two more times before the end of the season.
Know thy enemy
Your recommended Twitter follows for tonight’s contest:
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