Just over a week after suffering a 5-2 loss at the hands of the San Jose Sharks the Calgary Flames will have a chance at redemption tonight on home soil.
The Flames enter this game having won consecutive games for just the third time this season. The first two times the Flames accomplished such a feat they followed up with losses the third time out and that's a trend they'll be looking to buck tonight.
This game is far from do or die but if the Flames are remotely serious about contending for a playoff spot they need to be able to string together more than two wins in a row at some point. This would be a good place to start as with a win, and an Arizona loss to St. Louis, the Flames would sit just three points behind the Coyotes for the final playoff spot in the Pacific. They'd have a game in hand(!), too.
As bad as the first ~30% of the season has gone the Flames are still in the thick of things. That'd hold even more true if they can squeeze out a win tonight.
LINEUPS Gaudreau - Monahan - Jones Bennett - Granlund - Hudler Raymond - Backlund - Frolik Ferland - Stajan - Colborne
Giordano - Brodie Russell - Hamilton Engelland - Wideman
Ramo/Hiller
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Note: Logan Couture could return to the lineup tonight.
Karlsson - Thornton - Pavelski Donskoi - Marleau - Wingels Nieto - Hertl - Ward Zubrus - Tierney - Brown
Martin - Burns Dillon - Braun Mueller - Tennyson
Jones
GAME NOTES 1) The Flames rank 30th in penalty kill percentage and allow more shot attempts (123.7) per 60 minutes in that game state than anyone in hockey. The Sharks, on the other hand, rank 6th in shot attempts for per 60 (118) on the man advantage and have no shortage of star power. This is a big mismatch in San Jose's favor.
2) Dougie Hamilton has three or more shots in eight of his last nine and, for the first time this season, has recorded points in consecutive games. He's really starting to hit his stride and be a difference maker from the back end.
3) The Flames have had sub .900 goaltending in four of their last five games and have allowed 19 goals in that span. The goaltending needs to be better if they're going to have a chance tonight.
The game is at 9 eastern and can be seen on SNW and CSN-CA.
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