The Calgary Flames are in Vancouver tonight to take on the Canucks in the first half of a home-and-home.
This should be a good game between, get this, two of the hotter teams in the NHL.
The Flames have won four of their last five and looked really good doing so, while the Canucks have won five straight and own a 7-2-1 record over their last 10 games.
As a result of both teams' hot streaks, the Flames are in the top wild card spot and sit just four back of the division lead while the Canucks are one point back of Los Angeles(!) for a playoff spot, and only three back of the Flames.
Suffice to say, there's a lot on the line in this home-and-home, which should give the Flames-Canucks rivalry some extra juice. If the Flames run the table they could, in theory, by 1st in the division by the end of it while the Canucks could jump the Flames with a couple wins.
These games are very important for both sides so I expect we'll see some exciting, intense hockey.
Here are the expected line combinations for the Flames:
Matthew Tkachuk - Mikael Backlund - Michael Frolik Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Alex Chiasson Kris Versteeg - Sam Bennett - Micheal Ferland Lance Bouma - Matt Stajan - Freddie Hamilton
Mark Giordano - Dougie Hamilton T.J. Brodie - Dennis Wideman Tyler Wotherspoon - Deryk Engelland
Brian Elliott
And the expected lines for the Canucks (via dailyfaceoff.com):
Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Jayson Megna Loui Eriksson - Brandon Sutter - Markus Granlund Sven Baertschi - Bo Horvat - Anton Rodin Brendan Gaunce - Michael Chaput - Jack Skille
Alex Edler - Troy Stecher Luca Sbisa - Chris Tanev Ben Hutton - Nikita Tryamkin
Ryan Miller
A few notes:
1) Over the last 10 games, Calgary's power play is 2nd to Columbus' in power play goals per 60 minutes played. In that same span, Vancouver's penalty kill ranks 30th in scoring chances allowed per 60. If the Flames can draw a few penalties -- I'm looking at you, Tkachuk -- they should be able to capitalize.
2) Brodie had a poor start to the season offensively but he has quietly tallied nine points in his last nine games. He's now producing at a respectable 33-point pace, although I'm sure the Flames would still like that number to go up.
3) Baertschi enters this game on fire having tallied six points and 14 shots over his last four games. He's been the Canucks' biggest threat of late and is someone the Flames need to pay extra attention to.
Tonight's game is scheduled for 10:00 eastern and can be seen on SNP and SNW.