After five consecutive losses, it’s fair to say that the playoff drive is all but over.
Now we get to see the lines change around a bit if things aren’t working. Maybe we get an extended look at some Wranglers players trying to impress. With any luck, maybe the roster will buy into the role of spoilers.
The interviews following the 3-0 loss to Minnesota were lethargic and uninspired. Any source of motivation at this point would be welcome. The team just seems utterly defeated.
The look of a defeated team. pic.twitter.com/cUobn2AiIq
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) March 5, 2023
Calgary Flames Projected Lineup Courtesy of Ryan Leslie. @ryanlesliemedia
Pelletier-Lindholm-Toffoli Ritchie-Kadri-Huberdeau Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman Lucic-Dube-Lewis
Weegar-Andersson Hanifin-Tanev Zadorov-Stecher
Markstrom Vladar
Nick Ritchie Both Huberdeau and Kadri were -2 on Saturday. Combine that with virtually no offence created by the two and we can pin the forming of this new line on Jakob Pelletier being promoted.
Nick has a heavy shot when he uses it and can create some chaos in front of the net. Tonight we’ll see if that dynamic is what was missing from the second line.
Line One It may actually be pretty fun to see Pelletier’s puck retrieval skills at work with an effective NHL veteran sniper. Certainly, something to keep an eye on tonight.
Dube One point in his last five games — Dillon gets a night on the fourth line. It would make a lot more sense to keep Duehr in the lineup for this move. It’s easy to envision the two speedy forwards being tough to handle.
For that matter, why not try Huberdeau-Dube-Duehr? We’ve spent most of the season trying to identify speedy trade targets to better accommodate Huberdeau. Why not at this point?
For that matter, why not try out this line on Friday against the Ducks?
Duehr-Dubé-Phillips
The Third Pairing Is anyone else getting Chris Butler/Anders Eriksson vibes from recent acquisition Troy Stetcher?
The game was within reach before Troy got overwhelmed on the rush, then at the boards, and finally at the net within the same sequence. Suddenly this one-goal game is broken open and entirely out of reach.
It’s just wild. How does someone watch that play and still think that Stetcher is a better option than Dennis Gilbert?
Better Odds It’s hard to complain at this point. Five teams sit one point ahead of the Flames. Nashville, Ottawa, Florida, Buffalo and Washington. All five are coming off at least one win. Detroit sits only two points behind the Flames with 19 games to go.
Let all six teams play through and we’re looking at a 10th overall pick and a 3.5% chance at Connor Bedard. That’s likely as low as the Flames can go. Philly and St. Louis are the next closest and both nine points behind the Flames.
Teams can move up a maximum of ten spots in the draft lottery.
Then again, the losing streak is only at five games. Make it ten! Make it twelve!
Dallas Stars Projected Lineup Courtesy of dailyfaceoff.com.
Robertson – Hintz – Pavelski Benn – Johnston – Dadonov Marchment – Domi – Seguin Kiviranta – Faksa – Dellandrea
Heiskanen – Miller Lindell – Hakanpaa Suter – Lundqvist
Oettinger Murray
How The Turn Tables Imagine hearing this line last year:
I’m looking forward to seeing Nick Ritchie playing his first game as a Flame on Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau’s line tonight.
That sure would sound confusing.
That’s just how it is sometimes. Likewise, the Dallas Stars ranked 21st in offence last year. This season, they’re 11th and in second place in the Western Conference. The very same place in the standings that Calgary finished the season in.
Heading into tonight’s game Calgary has one goal in their last two games. Dallas has 12 including seven against Colorado.
If we’ve learned anything from this season, it’s that things can change drastically over 365 days, so don’t feel too glum about the situation.
Game time is 7:30 pm MST. Catch the broadcast on Sportsnet West in Canada — Bally Sports South West in the States.
Trevor Neufeld
@Trevor_Neufeld
Stats via naturalstattrick.com and nhl.com. Draft lottery simulation image courtesy of tankathon.com.