The final two games of the season.
A last chance to see teams such as the Arizona Coyotes or Vancouver Canucks before the elimination format begins and things get real. For Flames fans, they’ll have a chance to watch the Winnipeg Jets tomorrow.
As for two teams playing their 81st regular season game tonight, it’s more a matter of preparing their on-ice product for what lays ahead.
The Minnesota Wild with a 51-22-7 record and 109 point total will host the Calgary Flames. Their record being 50-20-10 for 110 points.
And while they’ve both locked up a spot, this four point game may serve a different purpose should they meet in the playoffs.
Home ice advantage.
Winning this game may be invaluable. A three point lead on both St. Louis and Minnesota with only one game yet to be played would clinch home ice advantage against either team. Head Coach Darryl Sutter has to be emphatic about winning tonight.
Not to mention these two teams along with St. Louis have suddenly become the hottest groups down the stretch. 8-1-1 records in their last ten. Better than Florida (8-2-0), better than Colorado (6-4-0), better than Edmonton (7-2-1).
Note the Kings in those standings. For all the talk of Edmonton dismantling them when playoffs start, the Kings have quietly won five straight.
With a playoff-style game on the menu, it’s unlikely that the lineup deviates much from last game. Updated as the information becomes available.
Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk Mangiapane-Backlund-Toffoli Dube-Jarnkrok-Coleman Lucic-Lewis-Ritchie
Hanifin-Andersson Kylington-Tanev Zadorov-Gudbranson
Markstrom
The Wild You may remember the fledgling rivalry between the Minnesota Wild and the Calgary Flames. The epic wrote another chapter on February 26 in a 7-3 Flames victory. The game got largely out of hand after a first period featuring a single penalty call. Twelve minors later and it was safe to say the rivalry is alive and present. Oliver Kylington fell awkwardly into the boards that game at 11:27 of the third period and did not return.
The Flames and Wild played one game against each other after that. A slightly less aggressive 5-1 win for the Flames. Even in that game defenceman Nikita Zadorov and forward Ryan Hartman squared off in a tilt and several unsportsmanlike penalties were assessed. The Flames took full advantage of the rough stuff going 2/3 on the powerplay.
Dube Aflame You watch Dillon Dube in the last ten and wonder where this player was for the last year and a half. Eight goals in his last seven games. He’s using his speed and cutting to the inside more efficiently. His shot isn’t the hardest, but when mixed with his stride he seems to be finding a sweet spot where he can pick targets accurately.
Good to see him heating up at the right time.
Jarnkrok’s Impact Calle Jarnkrok’s offensive production has been underwhelming since being acquired. Four assists in 15 games.
His sound defensive game has been adequate though. Also encouraging is that he’s produced an assist in his last two games. Against his former team of eight seasons, the Nashville Predators, Calle had several stare downs. It appears he doesn’t get along too well with defenceman Dante Fabbro when they’re wearing opposing jerseys. Something to keep an eye on.
Matchup Updates
The Dallas Stars Dallas blew a 3-0 lead to the second worst team in the NHL last night. The game ended 4-3 Coyotes. One goal was a tough bounce and the other three? Brutal coverage. Passing lanes unchecked, players walking through the slot with the puck, and Coyotes taking shots in close to the net without so much as a slash to distract them. Brutal.
What a sour note to make the playoffs on. Losing to the Coyotes, but earning the loser point in the process.
The Nashville Predators Elliotte Friedman confirmed the prognosis on goaltender Jusse Saros was not good. He’ll be out for the remaining games of the regular season and will be a question mark for the playoffs. The Predators are in Denver tonight to play the Colorado Avalanche. 7:00pm start time. You may be able to switch back and forth between the Flames game and this one.
Puck drop is around 6:10pm mst.
Trevor Neufeld
Statistics via naturalstattrick.com and nhl.com.