Welcome to the Game Day Fire Drill, for this, Calgary’s 12th game of the season on Oct. 31, 2009.

Tonight would be an excellent game to go out and get back on track with a win.

Losing tough games to the Avalanche is one thing. That team is, for whatever reason, white-hot and pretty much lucking their way through every single game they play. But losing to teams like Detroit? They’ve been awful this year. Positively awful.

This protracted, drawn-out homestand is Calgary’s one chance to really rest everybody up this season (considering how many Flames will be competing in the Olympics in a few months’ time) and it would be a shame for them to only go 3-2-0 on it, especially given both how well the Flames have played on it overall and their next games will be a road back-to-back at midweek.

Calgary has its problems (defense, goaltending, the PK, etc. etc.). Of course it does. But Detroit is a team that’s badly bruised and, at long last, showing its advancing age. When ws the last time the Red Wings allowed more goals than they scored through 11 games? Do you ever recall seeing them at a team minus-22? 

If Calgary were to let the Wings escape with even a point tonight, that would, I’d think, be a bid disappointing.

The Calgary Flames (7-3-1 for 15 points. Tied for seventh in the West, tied for second in the Northwest) and the Detroit Red Wings (4-4-3 for 11 points. Tied for 11th in the West, tied for second in the Central).

8 p.m. Mountain time and 10 p.m. Eastern time. All other time zones should watch some great horror films.

Pengrowth Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta.

Calgary is 5-2-0 at home this year, which is solid, but they lost their last home game to the freaking Avalanche so who knows what goes on with these guys any more. The Wings are 1-3-2 on the road, which is very un-Detroit-like and thus hilarious. They didn’t even get their first road win until earlier this week.

(Halloween pun edition!)

Todd Bootoooooooooooooozi — Only 750 more drop passes to no one before he "crosses over."

Justin Appleblader — All he has to do to get his rich old uncle’s inheritance is spend a night in the haunted defensive zone.

Patrick Eeks — Scarily untalented.

Brain Rafalski — If zombie movies have taught us nothing else, it’s that you always aim for the head, just like Nicklas Kronwall.

Headless Zetterberg — All the Flames need to do is cross a body of water to be safe.

Jimmy Howlard — Was once bitten by Chris Osgood on a full moon, turning him, too, into an awful goalie.

Darren Hell — (I don’t have a good one for this).

The ghost of Pavel Datsyuk’s skill — He’s kiiiiiiilling my fantasy team.

Because the Flames’ play in the defensive zone is the scariest thing you’ll see all night. Enjoy the game and try to frighten each other in the comments section.