Anyone else feel about 15 games into the season? Well, it’s only been eight.
While that total is tied for an NHL low with the Blues, who had only played two games by October 21, it still feels like two chapters of the season have nearly, hopefully, concluded.
Obviously, there was the 5-1-0 start. Not perfect hockey, but a very resilient core getting things done.
Then there is the two games over eight days that have shown a different side of the Calgary Flames. A side that most of us would hope doesn’t show it’s face too often. A side that falls flat in the late third.
Tonight we get to find out whether a new chapter begins for the 5-3-0 Calgary Flames with a game against another team seeking to turn the page. That being the 3-6-1 Nashville Predators. A team that has lost seven of their last eight games.
Flames fans may remember what many call the most physical game of the season last April. A 5-4 overtime win for the Flames that featured, well, a lot.
Flames-Predators April 26, 2022 74 hits 56 penalty minutes 2 fights 3 unsportsmanlike penalties 3 roughing penalties 1 injured starting goalie 1 OT goal
Maybe we should be more excited about tonight’s game? If the level of physicality draws anywhere near last April’s bout, we’re in for quite the night. In theory tonight will feature two very desperate teams.
Projected Flames Lineup Rooney draws back in. Tanev hasn’t practiced for the last two days. Preds lineup at the bottom.
Huberdeau-Kadri-Mangiapane Lucic-Lindholm-Toffoli Dube-Backlund-Coleman Lewis-Rooney-Ritchie Hanifin-Andersson Zadorov-Weegar Mackey-Stone
Markstrom Vladar
Making It Work The group takes another run at making this forward lineup configuration work. While it’s a head scratcher that Lucic stays on the second line, him and Toffoli played extensive minute together in LA. To the point where the two were each other’s most common linemates.
Wakey Wakey Mr. Weegar If tonight’s game indeed turns into a gauntlet, it may be an opportunity for MacKenzie Weegar to make his presence known. You can certainly tell that there is more to Weegar’s physical game than we have seen.
Games Played: TOI/GP: 20:45 Hits: 19 Hits/GP: 2.38 Hits/60 Minutes of Icetime: 6.86
He isn’t much of a fighter so far in his career. Last season he Gali fly beat by Tanner Pearson. The season prior, Ryan Carpenter fed him his lunch. Evander Kane gave him a thrashing years ago. It would have to be years ago, since Kane hasn’t fought since 2020.
Weegar has won fights against Kasperi Kapanen, Nazem Kadri, and Paul Byron. Not exactly a murderers row.
Fights aside, the stocky defenceman can throw better hits than he has in eight games this season. Hopefully he does so tonight.
One Guy He Could Take Mark Jankowski has been recalled from the Milwaukee Admirals for this game. The once-hyped 2012 first round pick is yet to click at the NHL level. The 28 year old had two goals and five points in 19 games with the Sabres last season.
Good to see he’s still in the picture and best of luck to him tonight if he does indeed draw into the lineup.
Predators Projected Lineup
Forsberg-Granlund-Duchene Neiderreiter-Johanson-Tolvanen Trenin-Sissons-Jeannot Smith-Jankowski-McCarron
Josi-Fabbro Ekholm-Carrier McDonagh-Lauzon
Saros Lankinen
Game time is 7:00pm mst. Catch it on Sportsnet One in Canada and BSSO in the States.
Trevor Neufeld
@Trevor_Neufeld
Stats via naturalstattrick.com and nhl.com.