After a dreadful 1-3-1 road trip the Calgary Flames are back on home soil and looking to head into the all-star break on a positive note with a win over the Nashville Predators.
By all accounts (standings, on paper, underlying numbers) the Predators are the better team but the Flames do have the schedule working in their favor.
The Flames are rested while the Predators played an intense 2-1 game in Vancouver last night.
Still, this game is far from a gimme as, again, the Preds are a very talented team and they can get themselves into a wild card spot with a win tonight. In other words they have a lot to play for and will have no problem emptying the tank tonight.
The Flames need to be much better tonight if they want to avoid their fifth loss in six games.
LINEUPS Gaudreau - Monahan - Raymond Bennett - Backlund - Frolik Bouma - Granlund - Hudler Bollig - Stajan - Jones
Giordano - Brodie Russell - Hamilton Engelland - Wideman
Ramo
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Fiala - Johansen - Neal Forsberg - Ribeiro - Smith Salomaki - Fisher - Jarnkrok Nystrom - Gaustad - Bass
Josi - Weber Jackman - Ellis Ekholm - Granberg
Rinne
NOTES 1) The Fiala - Johansen - Neal hasn't been together long but they've proven to be awfully effective as the Preds get a much higher percentage of 5 v 5 shot attempts and scoring chances with them on the ice as opposed to without. I'm sure they'll see a steady dose of Giordano - Brodie tonight. That'll be a fun matchup to watch.
2) Speaking of Giordano, he has 24 points in 25 games after tallying just six in his first 22 games. He's looked a lot like the guy who was playing at a Norris caliber level last season.
3) The Predators have the league's 8th ranked power play. The Flames have the 29th ranked penalty kill. That's a matchup that works significantly in Nashville's favor so the Flames best stay disciplined.
Keep the game 5 v 5 and make the (somewhat) fatigued team earn their goals.
The game is at 9:30 eastern and can be seen on Sportsnet One and Fox-Sports Tennessee.
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