Buckle up. Tonight’s match between the 15-6-5 Calgary Flames and the 17-6-1 Carolina Hurricanes is going to be what the kids call “a banger….
Calgary’s momentum has fizzled of late. Prior to December 3 they had won seven of their last eight games. Since then they’ve lost two straight. While they’ve shown elements of their dominant style —for example out-chancing the sharks in all three periods on Tuesday; they’ve also shown a lack of resilience. Whether it’s the second period against the Golden Knights or the second half of the game against the Sharks, the Flames haven’t been able to put together a 60 minute game. This dominant Carolina Hurricanes team will take full advantage if the Flames defence stumbles at any point tonight.
Major character game for the Calgary Flames. In previous tests of resolve, the Flames have responded well. None of those tests have been against a dominant team like the Hurricanes. Here is tonight’s projected lineup:
Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk Coleman-Backlund-Mangiapane Lucic-Monahan-Dube Richardson-Ruzicka-Lewis
Hanifin-Andersson Kylington-Tanev Zadorov-Gudbranson
Markstrom
Unwavering loyalty Tuesday’s loss to the Sharks was a rough one for the bottom defence pairing of Gudbranson and Zadorov. A minor crosschecking penalty for each of them — the Sharks capitalizing on both power plays. Gudbranson failed to clear the zone on the game winner — No one would have been surprised if one or both of them drew out of the lineup. People will be slightly less surprised to see the pairing intact tonight against one of the fastest teams in the NHL.
Valimaki sent back down While he was technically on the game sheet for the Sharks game; he didn’t actually dress. Two days later the 23 year old defenseman has been sent back down to Stockton. He’ll most likely get another look if one of Kylington or Hanifin get injured.
Getting systems back up and running While the series featured plenty of multi-goal swings, the Tampa Bay Lightning showed the hockey world that the key to beating the Hurricanes is locking them down at their end of the neutral zone. Also, have an incredible goalie waiting for when the Hurricanes find a hole in coverage. If the Flames can get back to the fundamentals of the trap then they’ll give themselves a good chance tonight. Markstrom hasn’t played since the 5th and will be well rested for tonight’s game.
Game time is 7pm MST.
Trevor Neufeld