FGD 50: Tkachuk Bowl IV (2pm MT, SN West)
By Ryan Pike
4 years agoIn their final game prior to the All-Star Break, the Brothers Tkachuk clash! The Calgary Flames (26-18-5, 57 points) face off against the Ottawa Senators (16-23-8, 40 points) in the fourth head-to-head meeting of Matthew and Brady Tkachuk in the National Hockey League.
The game begins just after 2 p.m. MT on Sportsnet West and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
The Flames
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Mangiapane – Lindholm – Tkachuk
Gaudreau – Monahan – Backlund
Lucic – Ryan – Dube
Bennett – Jankowski – Rieder
Gaudreau – Monahan – Backlund
Lucic – Ryan – Dube
Bennett – Jankowski – Rieder
Giordano – Brodie
Hanifin – Hamonic
Kylington – Andersson
Hanifin – Hamonic
Kylington – Andersson
David Rittich starts for the Flames, backed up by Cam Talbot. Today’s projected scratches are Alexander Yelesin, Michael Stone and Zac Rinaldo.
The Flames have gone 15-6-1 with Geoff Ward behind the bench. They haven’t been the best team in the NHL or anything – they’ve been 21st in Corsi For percentage, 21st in Scoring Chance For percentage and 12th in High Danger Chance For percentage. They’re not an amazing team, but they’ve found ways to win.
This is Round 4 of the head-to-head Tkachuk battle. The Flames won the three previous games. Matthew has a goal and two assists, while Brady has a goal.
The Senators
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Tkachuk – Anisimov – Brown
Ennis – White – Batherson
Namestnikov – Tierney – Duclair
Balcers – Chlapik – Sabourin
Ennis – White – Batherson
Namestnikov – Tierney – Duclair
Balcers – Chlapik – Sabourin
Chabot – Hainsey
Borowiecki – Zaitsev
Reilly – DeMelo
Borowiecki – Zaitsev
Reilly – DeMelo
Marcus Hogberg starts for Ottawa, backed up by Craig Anderson. The projected extras are Cody Goloubef and Mikkel Boedker. Jean-Gabriel Pageau is a game-time decision, as he missed Thursday’s game with an upper body injury.
The Senators are, points-wise, the second-worst team in the NHL. They’re a young scrappy group, but they’ve been demolished by injuries this season and haven’t really had a consistent group at all.
The Numbers
| Flames | Senators | |
| Wins | 26 | 16 |
| Points | 57 | 40 |
| Adjusted Corsi | 49.8% | 46.3% |
| Power Play | 18.9% | 11.6% |
| Penalty Kill | 83.0% | 80.8% |
Injury Report
The Flames are without D Juuso Valimaki (ACL surgery).
The Senators are missing F Clarke MacArthur (concussion), F Marian Gaborik (back), F Ryan Callahan (back), D Christian Wolanin (shoulder), F Bobby Ryan (personal), G Anders Nilsson (concussion) and F Nick Paul (ankle).
When Last We Met
The Flames beat the Senators 3-1 in Calgary at the end of November in Tkachuk Bowl III. This game closes out their season series.
Know Thy Enemy
Here are some key Twitter follows for today’s game:
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