FGD 8: Here come the Red Wings (7pm MT, SN360)
By Ryan Pike
4 years agoAfter a triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday evening, the Calgary Flames (3-3-1, 7 points) conclude their brief homestand tonight at the Scotiabank Saddledome. This evening, they face an Original Six opponent in the form of the Detroit Red Wings (3-3-0, 6 points). The Wings have been similarly uneven as the Flames, and the challenge will be for both clubs to put together a consistent 60 minute effort in pursuit of two points.
The puck drops at 7 p.m. MT on Sportsnet 360 (with Rick Ball and Kelly Hrudey) and Sportsnet 960 The Fan (with Derek Wills and Peter Loubardias).
For a view from the other side, visit Wings Nation!
The Flames
Yesterday’s lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Gaudreau – Monahan – Lindholm
Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik
Mangiapane – Ryan – Bennett
Lucic – Jankowski- Czarnik
Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik
Mangiapane – Ryan – Bennett
Lucic – Jankowski- Czarnik
Giordano – Brodie
Hanifin – Hamonic
Kylington – Andersson
Hanifin – Hamonic
Kylington – Andersson
David Rittich starts for the seventh time this season, backed up by Cam Talbot (in a backwards hat). The healthy scratches are Michael Stone and Tobias Rieder.
The Flames haven’t played a full 60 minutes of hockey yet, but the last two games were pretty close. They’re still pretty clunky in their own end and their breakouts are a bit unimpressive at times, but it’s early and they’ll have time to smooth out their rough spots. The challenge for them will be emphasizing their special teams play against a Red Wings club that hasn’t been great in that realm. Oh, and taking fewer penalties.
The Red Wings
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Bertuzzi – Larkin – Mantha
Hirose – Athanasiou – Glendening
Filppula – Nielsen – Erne
Helm – de la Rose – Abdelkader
Hirose – Athanasiou – Glendening
Filppula – Nielsen – Erne
Helm – de la Rose – Abdelkader
Nemeth – Green
Daley – Hronek
Cholowski – Biega
Daley – Hronek
Cholowski – Biega
Jimmy Howard starts for the Red Wings, backed up by Jonathan Bernier. The projected extras are Christoffer Ehn and Madison Bowey.
The Red Wings have lost back to back games by a combined score of 10-3. For a Flames team that hasn’t scored a lot this season (yet), the Wings might be the ideal opponent. Plus, for a power play that hasn’t been great (yet) this season, the Wings’ penalty kill may be a good match-up.
The Numbers
| Flames | Red Wings | |
| Wins | 3 | 3 |
| Points | 7 | 6 |
| Adjusted Corsi | 51.2% | 46.6% |
| Power Play | 13.6% | 11.1% |
| Penalty Kill | 85.2% | 72.2% |
Injury Report
The Flames are without D Juuso Valimaki (ACL surgery).
The Red Wings are missing F Johan Franzen (post-concussion syndrome), D Jonathan Ericsson (lower body) and D Dan DeKeyser (lower body).
When Last We Met
The Flames beat the Red Wings twice last season. Their most recent meeting was a 6-4 home victory over Detroit in mid-January.
Know Thy Enemy
Here are some key Twitter peeps to follow for tonight’s opener:
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