The 40-17-8 (88 points) Calgary Flames play their third and final game against the NHL’s top team tonight in the 46-14-6 (98 points) Colorado Avalanche.
While their last meeting was a bit of a slog — a 3-0 Avalanche shutout at the end of a gruelling five game week for the Flames; don’t expect tonight’s game to have too much in common.
Tonight’s projected lineup courtesy of Pat Steinberg. @Fan960Steinberg
Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk Mangiapane-Backlund-Toffoli Dube-Jarnkrok-Coleman Lucic-Monahan-Lewis
Hanifin-Andersson Kylington-Tanev Zadorov-Gudbranson
Markstrom
Elephant in the room A bit of a head scratcher here. After being a healthy scratch for two games, Sean Monahan is projected to return to the lineup. Here’s the thing — Monahan wasn’t practicing on that fourth line yesterday.
Did Sean earn his way back in during practice? Sutter mentioned giving the former first line center nights off to reset. Will Carpenter be getting slotted in and out to accommodate Monahan’s maintenance schedule? Does head coach Darryl Sutter think Ryan Carpenter isn’t ready to be a lineup regular yet?
Time will tell.
Sutter has spoke on adjusting the lineup to best match the opposition. Perhaps Monahan’s solid performance in the dot in two games against Colorado is another reason to dress him. 78% the first meeting and 55% the second.
A fine notion, but Carpenter is no slouch in that department. The 31 year old center won 10 of 13 when the Blackhawks last played the Avalanche; or 77%.
All that said, Monahan has put his time in with the Flames. He deserves opportunities to play his way back in.
Shifting narratives Three Avs/Flames games in one month has been a treat. Even more remarkable has been that the first two games have been very different experiences. The first being a statement overtime win between the two top Western Conference teams. The second, a test of endurance for the Flames to see whether they can compete while running on fumes.
The third game has its own narrative and it may be fair to say that the handicap has changed hands.
It was announced today that Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon is week-to-week with an upper body injury. Most likely sustained in a fight with Minnesota Wild defenceman Matt Dumba two nights ago. Dumba laid a monstrous hit on Avalanche star forward Mikko Rantanen and Nate made him answer for it.
MacKinnon has three goals in two games against the Flames this season. He essentially took over their last meeting scoring two of three Avalanche goals. Nathan has been limited to 51 games this season due to injury, but has 70 points over that span. His (most likely) hand injury will (most likely) cost him about four weeks.
Tack on Landeskog being out due to knee surgery, Byram Bowen struggling with concussions, Sam Girard out with back issues and Ryan Murray with a hand/arm/wrist issue sidelining him and now the Avalanche are working with a fairly adjusted lineup. Mikko Rantanen may even be playing through something after being laid out so hard in the aforementioned Dumba collision.
Finding a landing spot It’s great to see Dillon Dube go on a bit of a heater. Four points in his last four games. A goal and an assist against Edmonton on Saturday. Two points from Dillon Dube on the third line is ideal. Let’s hope he keeps finding chemistry with Jarnkrok and Coleman. He has to be getting sick of being shuffled around the lineup.
7:08 puck drop mst. Broadcast is on Sportsnet West.
@Trevor_Neufeld