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Flames/Rangers Debriefing — Flames/Devils Preview |
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The Calgary Flames vastly outplayed the New York Rangers last night en route to a 5-1 win. Here are a few thoughts. If you just want to read the Flames/Devils preview feel free to skip down to it below.
Pitlick-Backlund-Coleman was a force
The chemistry between newcomer Blake Coleman and the longest serving Calgary Flame Mikael Backlund was on show last night. Combining for 12 shots between the two of them and a CF% of 60%. They were winning puck races all night. Backlund and Coleman each scored in the third to put the game out of reach.
Mangiapane continues breakout season
Is anyone else starting to worry about how much Mangiapane will be re-signing for after this season? Obviously the 25 year old left wing will cool down, but with five goals in five games — you have wonder what his point total will be by the end of the season. If he keeps producing like this, Treliving should be trying to get him onto a long term contract at a price point around 5-6 million. With Gaudreau, Tkachuk and Mangiapane all needing new contracts this offseason, GM Brad Treliving has a lot of negotiating to do.
Markstrom was instrumental
Despite a 37-29 shot differential, it very easily could have been a game where the Flames had momentum swept out from under them. Markstrom made some fantastic saves.
Fox didn’t look Norris worthy
Former Calgary Flame draft pick Adam Fox got caught pinching on the Flames first goal. You could see he’s good with the puck, but it’s strange to see him talked about as the best defenseman in the league.
The Flames are on a back-to-back tonight and will play the 3-1-0 New Jersey Devils at 5pm. There are no announced changes to the lineup, so here is what it will most likely be:
Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk
Coleman-Backlund-Pitlick
Lucic-Monahan-Lewis
Mangiapane-Dube-Ritchie
Hanifin-Andersson
Kylington-Tanev
Valimaki-Gudbranson
Vladar
Devils don’t like fire apparently
The Calgary Flames have won six straight against the Devils. Gaudreau has 20 points in 11 games against the Devils over his career. The Flames will need to out work them despite finishing their last game 23 hours ago.
Injury issues
The young New Jersey roster just can’t seem to get healthy. Jack Hughes is still out with a shoulder injury. Goalies Mackenzie Blackwood and Jonathan Bernier as well as winger Miles Wood are out with lower body injuries.
A first line you probably haven’t seen before
While you may be familiar with Nico Hischier, the names Yegor Sharnagovich and Janne Koukkanen might be new ones. The two 23 year olds have never played the Flames before. The two of them quietly put up a combined 55 points last season.
Vladar starts
Daniel Vladar performed well against the high offence Washington Capitals saving 22/25 shots. While that put him below .900, he made the saves he needed to in the third to keep the game 3-3. He starts the second half of the back-to-back against the sub par Devils offence — They have zero players scoring at a point per game.
Enjoy it,
Trevor Neufeld
Follow me on Twitter @Trevor_Neufeld
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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