Last night there were two teams in particular that could have really helped the team's post season hopes. In Buffalo, the Sabres faced the Colorado Avalanche. Things looked good as the Sabres were ahead and about to do the Flames a big favour when Gabriel Landeskog showed once again why he's quickly becoming the Calder favorite by leading his club when it needed it most as he spear-headed the final rush that led to Jamie McGinn's tying goal with just 2 seconds left. After that it was left to Semyon Varlamov who improved to 8-0 in the shootout this season as overtime solved nothing and he stonewalled the Sabres to get his team the win.
Just as an aside, aren't the Sharks claiming they have issues with scoring depth? Didn't they trade McGinn? Doesn't McGinn have 7 goals in 8 games? Does anyone else find this ironic?
In Vancouver the Flames hoped that the top team in their division could do them a favour as they hosted the Coyotes in a game that could have kept the Desert Dogs in striking distance for the team as before last night's game the Flames were just a single point behind Phoenix and hoping to have the chance to leap-frog them tonight. But alas, it was not to be as the Canucks recent struggles continued and Phoenix was able to escape Vancouver with a 5-4 victory that puts them three points up on Calgary and sitting in seventh spot.
So a win tonight won't actually allow the Flames to catch the Coyotes, but it would allow them to catch the Avalanche if the Avs fall in regulation to the Devils. Oh yes, that means the Flames are hoping for some help from the Devils...
It should also be pointed out that the Flames could gain, or conversely lose, ground on the San Jose Sharks as well as the Fierce Fish will be hosting the Predators tonight, so Flames fans have yet another club to cheer for on this busy Thursday.
Bottom line is, nothing else matters if the Flames don't take care of their own business. Once again that makes tonight's game their most important match of the season as they are facing a team they are chasing in the standings.
Sven Baertschi could be playing his last game as an emergency call-up. He's currently riding a 2 game goal streak.
Jarome Iginla has 6 goals in his last 5 games and is on a 5 game goal streak, he's also aon a 7 game point streak overall adding 6 assists for 13 points over that span.
Matt Stajan increased his point streak to 4 last game and has 2 goals and 5 points over that stretch.
The season series so far has been tight with both teams earning 4 total points but the Flames having dropped 2 games in extra time. In order to keep pace with Phoenix, the Flames would like to once again best them in regulation as they did in their last meeting, in Phoenix on March 1st, when the final score was 4-2 Flames.
Curtis Glencross will be back in the lineup tonight as the 5 minute major and game misconduct was deemed sufficient punishment for his hit on Demers.
Flames will need a big push in front of their home fans to keep their recent hot streak, and playoff hopes, alive.
Have a great day!
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