Although the Sharks have handed the Flames some embarassing losses the last few years, the contests between the two clubs have been surprisingly cloes affairs so far this seasons. I don’t know if this means tonight’s will again be equally contested or if the Flames are just due for a paddlin’. We’ll find out soon enough I suppose.

The real concern this evening is the same concern Calgary fans and management have at this time every year: the playoffs and the encroaching trade deadline. As usual, the Flames chances balance on the edge of a knife – if they lose, they’ll remain 12th in the west, log-jammed with 4 other clubs fighting for the final spot. If they win, they’ll jump to just one point behind the incumbent Minnesota Wild.

Exhausting but rarely boring I suppose.