FGD #65: A Trip to Motown (5:30pm MT, SN West)

After a tough game last night in Boston, the Calgary Flames hope to build on their solid road trip record thus far (3-2-0 in five games) when they trek into Detroit to face the Red Wings.

The Red Wings are over 20 games above .500 – Calgary’s “just” 10 games over – and are one of the league’s more complete teams. It’ll be a tough test for the visitors.

The puck drops at 5:30pm MT and the game can be caught on Sportsnet West and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.

No practice this morning due to the back-to-back, but here’s projected lines via Roger Millions of Sportsnet:

Gaudreau – Monahan – Hudler
Bouma – Backlund – Colborne
Raymond – Shore – Jooris
Bollig – Stajan – Ferland

Russell – Wideman
Brodie – Engelland
Schlemko – Diaz

Jonas Hiller gets his first start on this road trip, by virtue of Karri Ramo facing a zillion shots last night in Boston. He also gave up three even-strength goals, perhaps a sign he’s fatiguing a bit from playing (and traveling) a ton.

David Jones is injured, so we get some forward line shuffling. And I’d expect lines to get juggled through the game. Ferland and Matt Stajan cycle back into the line-up, as Jones and Emile Poirier cycle out. Stajan’s return bolsters a Flames PK that’ll need the help against the NHL’s best power-play tonight.

Lines via Daily Faceoff:

Jurco – Datsyuk – Tatar
Abdelkader – Zetterberg – Cole
Weiss – Sheahan – Nyquist
Miller – Andersson – Glendening

Ericsson – Kronwall
DeKeyser – Quincey
Smith – Zidlicky

Jimmy Howard is starting tonight.

The Wings are in a solid playoff spot. They aren’t desperate, like the Bruins were last night, but they are definitely trying to round themselves into playoff form. They should be a strong test for the Flames tonight, particularly with their ability to roll four forward lines.

The Flames need 21 points (or 10 more wins) to hit 95 points.

Elsewhere tonight, the red-hot Minnesota Wild face the Carolina Hurricanes.

After a hard-fought win last night that relied on some luck and shootout heroics, the Flames hope their path to victory will be a bit easier tonight. But the Red Wings are a tough out on any night, even moreso on the back half of a back-to-back on the road.

The Flames will need to be very good to get two points tonight.