On the tail of a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, the Calgary Flames are getting back on the horse tonight against the first place Vegas Golden Knights. With the prospect of going 1-5-0 in December on the table, tonight will be a compelling gut check for the group. Let’s get to it.
Calgary Flames (11-14-3, 25 pts) vs Vegas Golden Knights (19-5-5, 43 pts)
Time: 8:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. TV: Sportsnet One, Sportsnet West, ESPN
The Thin Blue Line With Nikita Zadorov off to Vancouver and Chris Tanev out of the lineup following an awkward hit from Colorado’s Ross Colton, the Flames will have a blue line looking more or less like this tonight.
Hanifin-Andersson Oesterle-Weegar Gilbert-DeSimone Oesterle
That’s not a lot of depth. Nick DeSimone has has been recalled in the wake of Tanev’s departure and may slot in. 21-year-old Matthew Coronato was also assigned to the Wranglers following the conclusion of his emergency loan to the Flames.
The Golden Knights Vegas is coming into the game playing well. 4-0-1 in December, 4.20 goals for per game (4th) and 2.20 goals against per game. Jack Eichel is on a seven game point streak amassing four goals and eight assists since Nov. 28. Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault is coming off a two goal performance. In other words, buckle up.
Calgary Flames Projected Lineup Zary-Lindholm-Sharangovich Mangiapane-Kadri-Pospisil Huberdeau-Backlund-Coleman Greer-Ruzicka-Dube
Weegar-Andersson Hanifin-Tanev Solovyov-Gilbert
Wolf Vladar
Vegas Golden Knights Projected Lineup Based on last game. Barbashev – Eichel – Stone Howden – Stephenson – Marchessault Cotter – Karlsson – Amadio Carrier – Roy – Kolesar Hutton – Pietrangelo McNabb – Korczak Hague – Whitecloud Thompson Patera
Trevor Neufeld
@Trevor_Neufeld