Follow me on Twitter!:
@ColinDJD
Tonight the Calgary Flames will try to avoid being swept in their three games against the L.A. Kings this season.
After their loss to the Kings Saturday night, Hartley made no bones about the Flames situation, saying “…we have to win. That’s the urgency that we’re facing now”. He is right, losing tonight would mean the Flames would finish 0 for 3 on the road trip and would make post season play next to impossible. The bottom line is the Flames need more than a 2 game winning streak to make the playoffs, and they absolutely cannot take a three game losing streak. They currently sit last in the Western Conference, and 26th overall in the league. While we weren’t expecting an overly successful year, their lack of constancy might ultimately be cause for their demise.
Tonight will not be easy; the King’s have won 10 of their past 13 and the previous match up between the two teams on Saturday, they dominated the Flames in the last half of the game. This wasn’t the same Kings team we saw at the beginning of the season. LA was 3-5-2 throughout their first 10 games and have fought back to place 5th in the western conference, well on their way to the playoffs. The Kings success isn’t exactly good news for the Flames, but it provides an observation as to what a streaking team can achieve.
In terms of stats, the Kings outrank the Flames in every bracket except for the power play percentage, and as such the Flames will have to play with desperation and heart. To beat the Kings, the Flames will need to play a full 60 minute hockey game and work their opposition in both ends of the ice.
In the opening period Saturday night against the Kings, the Flames converted on a 3-5 but floundered on the next. Not all power plays will result in a goal but a two man advantage should provide ample opportunity. If the Flames had taken the lead in the 1st, it would have changed the momentum of the game. For both back to back powerplays, Hartley went with the exact same lines which weren’t clicking. If they get those opportunities again tonight Hartley needs to revert to what previously found him success which was switching around the lines. Just exchanging one player could throw off the Kings defenders and will keep them on their toes.
Defensively, the Flames need to pick up players; it’s just not fair for Kipursoff when someone sits alone on a post. They will also need to be all over Jeff Carter, who scored on a pass alone in front on Saturday and has been booming for L.A. with 17 goals thus far. After Saturday’s game, the Flames will also want to keep an eye out for Justin Williams; he has 6 points in 3 games, 3 of which came against the Flames. L.A. had too many great chances during their last meet and the Flames blueliner’s primary job is to reduce those breaks. A strong defensive game with a ton of pressure is what the Flames will need tonight.
After 2 losses on the road, the Flames are last place in the Western Conference and Hartley’s sentiments are 100% right. The Flames don’t have a choice now, if they want to make a post season run, they can’t lose tonight...or many more games for that matter. I suppose the only positive, cup half full comment is that there are still only seven points between 15th and 3rd place in the West.
Thanks for reading!
Make sure to check out
MUCHmoreDeals for
great prices on hockey tickets or other venues across North America, and much more!
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»