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Five things to watch for when the Calgary Flames take on the San Jose Sharks:
1. First line Lazar?
With Sean Monahan shut down for the season, Curtis Lazar has somehow jumped three lines and found his way onto the top line.
Lazar has generated shots at a pretty good clip this year – he averages more 5v5 attempts/60 than the likes of Sasha Barkov, Logan Couture, Jakub Voracek and Alexander Radulov! – but obviously finishing has been a completely different story. He just doesn't have the touch to capitalize when chances fall on his lap.
I would suggest this is a good tank move. The Flames don't have their 1st round pick though. *ducks*.
2. Rasmus Andersson's usage
Andersson has averaged a hair more than 13 minutes per game since being recalled. Most of the time he's shared the ice with the team's bottom-sixers, too. With making the playoffs all but impossible, I'd like to see the coaching staff give him some more ice so they can really evaluate what they have.
3. San Jose's dynamic duo
Evander Kane and Joe Pavelski have been absolutely dominant since the former was acquired by the Sharks. In almost 150 minutes together at 5v5, they've controlled 57.7% of the attempts, 62.7% of the scoring chances, and have out-scored opponents 10-4.
They torched the Flames last time these two met and, based on Calgary's lineup, I wouldn't be surprised if that happened again.
4. David Rittich
Rittich is expected to get the nod in goal this afternoon. His last two starts were strong, albeit they came against Buffalo and Ottawa, but as a whole his game has fallen off. He owns an .888 save percentage over his last eight starts and allowed at least four in half of them. He needs to be much better if the Flames are going to have a shot in this one.
5. Sam Bennett
Over the last 10 games, Bennett has posted a 58 Corsi For% and leads the team in scoring chances at 5v5. The results haven't necessarily been there – he has three 5v5 points in that span – but that should change sooner than later if he continues on his current path.
Here are the projected lineups:
Calgary
Johnny Gaudreau - Sam Bennett - Curtis Lazar
Troy Brouwer - Mikael Backlund - Michael Frolik
Micheal Ferland - Mark Jankowski - Chris Stewart
Nick Shore - Matt Stajan - Garnet Hathaway
Mark Giordano - Dougie Hamilton
Michael Stone - Travis Hamonic
Brett Kulak - Rasmus Andersson
Mike Smith
San Jose (via DailyFaceoff.com)
Evander Kane - Joe Pavelski - Melker Karlsson
Tomas Hertl - Logan Couture - Mikkel Boedker
Timo Meier - Chris Tierney - Kevin Labanc
Barclay Goodrow - Eric Fehr - Jannik Hansen
Paul Martin - Brent Burns
Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Justin Braun
Brenden Dillon - Dylan DeMelo
Martin Jones
Puck drop is just after 4:00 eastern and can be seen on SNW and NBCSCA.
Note: data via NaturalStatTrick.com and Corsica.Hockey.
Recent posts:
On the possibility of trading into the 1st round
Losing ways continue as Flames fall to Ducks
The Flames were smart to re-sign Mikael Backlund
Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland line has been one of league's best this season
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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