Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell
Fresh off their first win of the season the Calgary Flames are back in action tonight looking to get back to (NHL) .500.
On the surface one would think the Flames have a good chance of doing so as they'll be going up against a winless Carolina Hurricanes team that has allowed 12 goals in three games.
The numbers do suggest they're unlucky to be without a win, though. as they have controlled ~50% of the shot attempts and scoring chances. They just haven't had anything resembling competent goaltending. As it stands the Hurricanes rank 29th in team save percentage with their goaltenders stopping just .858% of the shots they've faced.
That should improve over time but Cam Ward and Eddie Lack posted terrible numbers last season so it shouldn't be a shock it's happening again in the early going this year.
The Calgary Flames haven't had great goaltending themselves - they rank 3rd last in team save percentage - but it's safe to assume the Flames' goaltending will be better than it has been to date. The Flames are hoping that starts tonight.
Here are the new-look line combos Glen Gulutzan is expected to go with tonight:
Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Alex Chiasson
Micheal Ferland - Sam Bennett - Troy Brouwer
Lance Bouma - Mikael Backlund - Michael Frolik
Matthew Tkachuk - Matt Stajan - Kris Versteeg
Mark Giordano - T.J. Brodie
Dougie Hamilton - Jyrki Jokipakka
Brett Kulak - Deryk Engelland
Brian Elliott
And what they will go up against:
Jeff Skinner - Victor Rask - Lee Stempniak
Joakim Nordstrom - Jordan Staal - Phil Di Giuseppe
Sebastian Aho - Elias Lindholm - Teuvo Teravainen
Bryan Bickell - Jay McClement - Martin Frk
Ron Hainsey - Justin Faulk
Jaccob Slavin - Brett Pesce
Noah Hanifin - Jakub Nakladal
Eddie Lack
A few notes:
1) The Skinner - Rask - Stempniak line doesn't feature a lot of big names but they've been one of the best trios in hockey thus far. With that unit on the ice at 5 v 5 the Hurricanes have controlled 68% of the shot attempts, 68% of the shots, and 75% of the scoring chances. This will be a good test for the Giordano - Brodie pairing.
2) Nakladal will be facing his former team for the first time tonight. Given the way the Flames' depth blue liners have played thus far I'm sure Brad Treliving and co. are having second thoughts about letting him go.
3) It's early but the Hurricanes' power play has been very potent to date. They are 2nd in shot attempts per 60, 6th in shots per 60, and 11th in scoring chances per 60. The Flames best stay disciplined tonight.
4) To date Tkachuk is above 50% in possession as well as scoring chance for%, and he scored his first career goal last time out. I don't think moving him to the 4th line was a fair decision based on his play.
Tonight's game is scheduled for 9 pm eastern and can be seen on SN-F and FS-CR.
Recent posts:
Flames, Gaudreau agree to long-term extension
Predicting the Pacific Division standings
Pacific Division bold predictions
Pacific Division breakout players
Michael Ferland should score more next season
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»