FGD: RiDuckulous Reversal

 

 

The Flames get a chance to make the space between 8th and 10th a little more crowded tonight by taking some points from the Ducks. Unfortunately, Anaheim is a place the Calgary hasn’t won in a long time. Although the Ducks haven’t been a juggernaut since their Pronger-led, cup winning team bested the Senators a few years ago, the pond has nevertheless been a charnel house for Flames hopes and aspirations for numerous successive seasons for whatever reason. 

While the streak is quirk of chance more than anything, the Flames do have a few real issues to worry about tonight. For one, the Ducks are one of the most improved teams in the NHL in the second half of the season. The addition of Boudreau has had  positive effect, as has some under the radar additions (including Nik Hagman) and a rebound by Jonas Hiller after a ghastly few months to start the year. As always, the Flames will also have to worry about Corey {erry, Ryan Getzlaf and Booby Ryan, a trio who are capable of becoming Flames killers at a moments. 

Absent unforseen events or circumstances, nothing will change for the Flames tonight.

Tanguay – Cammalleri – Iginla
Glencross – Jokinen – Moss
Kostopolous – Stajan – Comeau
Bouma – Horak – Jackman

Giordano – Hannan
Smith – Bouwmeester
Brodie – Sarich

Sutter did indeed try to split time for the top two lines in terms of facing the Coyotes number one unit of Whitney, Hanzal and Vrbata yesterday. The Flames are somewhat at the mercy of the home coach since he has last change, so Sutter will have chase match-ups where and when he can.

The second line of Moss, Jokinen and Glencross had the best scoring chance differential on the club last night which is a good first step for what could be Calgary’s new (old) shut-down trio. Moss himself didn’t seem to be shaking off too much rust in his return to the line-up, which is good news for a guy who is battling for a new contract heading into the summer. 

In net, it will be rookie Leland Irving. The Flames have seemingly made their choice between Karlsson and Irving, with the kid winning out, meaning the big Swede’s future with the organization is now a question mark. Look for him to be waived, packaged in a deal or loaned back to Sweden this off-season. 

I didn’t mention him earlier, but, like Ray Whitney, the immortal Teemu Selanne just keeps on ticking despite being old enough to have fathered some of his team mates. He has 21 goals and 55 points at nearly 42 years of age this season. That’s bonkers.

Ryan – Getzlaf – Perry
Hagman – Koivu – Selanne
Blake – Bonino – Cogliano
Belesky – Pelley – Smith-Pelly

Beauchemin – Fowler
Visnovsky – Sbisa
Lydman – Brookbank

Anaheim’s weak spot remains it’s forward depth. After the "big three" and Koivu and Selanne, things get ugly in a hurry and that’s despite mid-season additions Hagman and Rod Pelley. That said, the Flames aren’t exactly three lines deep at the moment either, so the match-up is likely a wash. With them at home, though, look for Bourdreau to try to give his big line some softer circumstances. The erstwhile Washington bench boss has been a lot less militant about hard matching Perry and Getz against every top line relative to Carlyle since he took over. Instead, he’s not afraid to attack the opponents underbelly and let another line take up some of the heavy lifting now and then.

On the back-end, the super powerhouse duo of Lydman and Visnosvky from has been broken up this season. If you want an example of how misleading the plus/minus stat can be over a sample size of one year (and/or how players can indeed ride percentage waves for a season) look no further than Lydman and Viso from 2010-11: the pair were a combined +50 (including Lydman’s +32) due almost entirely to team high PDO’s (SV+SH%) of 104.4 and 102.5 for the two respectively.

This year? A combined +1 with PDOs of 100.3 and 101.6.

Hiller will be in net tonight, naturally. After battling a strange bout of vertigo at the end of last year and playing like he was still suffering it’s effects from October to January, the 30 year old Swiss netminder has mostly been excellent since the calender changed. Hiller is an elite goalie when he’s on his game and is the primary reason the Ducks got anywhere last year.

The Flames are two points back of 8th and the Ducks are five points back of the Flames. Their hopes for the playoffs were all but snuffed by their horrendous start to the year, but they have shown no interest in laying back and hoping for a lottery pick like some organizations *cough*Edmonton*cough*.

My bet is they over take the Wild before the year ends and continue to make life miserable for desperate bubble teams like Calgary.