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Pelts Returns, Kuznetsov Draws in, Dube Sits - Flames-Senators Game Day |
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In the wake of an underwhelming 2-2-0 road trip, the Calgary Flames return to the Saddledome tonight for a faceoff against the suddenly sullen 14-21-0 Ottawa Senators. Capping the trip with a 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks (26 pts), Calgary will now have to face a team even more formidable in the Senators (28 pts).
Jokes aside, the Flames are 2-2-1 in the past three seasons against Ottawa and could very easily find themselves victim to the relentless pressure that the Senators seem to miraculously bring out against Calgary. Here are a few notes, thoughts, and observations heading into tonight’s game.
A Tale of Many Seasons
One odd trend this season with the Calgary Flames has been their change in approach month-over-month. October, well, let's not talk about October. A 2-6-1 record had them sitting in 31st to end the month.
November? One of the strangest months in recent memory. 8-2-4 is an odd enough record, but going 4-4-2 when ending the second period behind in the score was even stranger. The Flames of 2022-2023 had a record of 2-18-4 under those conditions.
The team then decided to get “meta” about their comeback nature in December by going 1-4-2 in the first half of the month and then 4-2-0 in the second half. That record boost was largely helped by a Jacob Markstrom return to form on Dec. 18 onward.
In January? It’s a bit early to get a pulse, but the team is .500 after their road trip after winning two in a row and then losing two in a row. Perhaps the team will define it’s self a little better when:
Pelletier Returns
26th overall pick in 2019, Jakob Pelletier has been assigned to the Wranglers with the intention of getting him back on the ice after missing half of the season with a shoulder injury. While the energetic 22 year old only recorded three goals and four assists last season, fans and executives alike could recognize the potential for more offensive production. Putting up two goals and two assists during a late February Arizona-Vegas back-to-back stands as a mid-season highlight for the Quebec native.
Pelletier skated in practice today with the Wranglers.
Yan the Man
2020 50th overall pick Yan Kuznetsov will play his first nhl game tonight. The 6-foot-4, 209-pound left shot defenceman will play next to Nick DeSimone on the third pairing.
Is it just me, or has it been a while since we’ve seen the Flames select a defensive defenceman with an early pick and proceed to see him make the NHL?
It’s not likely Yan sticks around for long in January, but it’s believable that the team is gauging what it has before making a move or two with other teams. Kuznetsov turns 22 one day after the March 8 NHL Trade Deadline.
Cochrane Kid?... More like Popcorn Kid
Apologies. Dillon Dube gets a night off to reset after going 20 games without a point. Adam Ruzicka draws in.
A Tale of Two Seasons
Ottawa has had a bit more of a bipolar season than the Flames. An 8-9-0 record, or .471 points percentage was nothing to write home about, but at this point looks like a trip to Cabo compared to going 6-12-0 Dec. 1 to Jan 9. The organization has cited players getting too comfortable, but there hasn’t been much help between the pipes.
Spare a Tissue for a Goalie Issue
Backup goaltender Anton Forsberg has managed to cling to a .500 points percentage since Dec. 1, going 4-4-0, but Ottawa’s pegged starter Joonas Korpisalo? 2-8-0 in the past 39 days and a .874 save percentage. Tonight’s young Senators group has lost a bit of confidence in a goaltender getting paid $4,000,000 for the next four and a half seasons.
The Wind(y City) Blows
To those losing money on a bet after the Flames dropped an arguable must-win game to the 31st place Blackhawks, it’s important to remember your history. The Flames went 0-2-1 last season against Chicago in games that played out in similar fashion.
Calgary’s record against Chicago in 2021-2022? 3-0-0. Surprising how much the likes of legitimate star power can help beat basement teams.
Calgary Flames Projected Lineup
Huberdeau-Lindholm-Sharangovich
Zary-Kadri-Pospisil
Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman
Greer-Ruzicka-Duehr
Hanifin-Tanev
Weegar-Andersson
Kuznetsov-DeSimone
Markstrom
Vladar
Ottawa Senators Projected Lineup
Practice lines courtesy of TSN1200. @TSN1200
Tkachuk-Norris-Joseph
Giroux-Stützle-Batherson
Kubalik-Greig-Tarasenko
Kelly-Kastelic-MacEwen
Chabot-JBD
Chychrun-Sanderson
Brannstrom-Hamonic
Korpisalo
Forsberg
Game time is 7:00 pm MST. Catch the broadcast on Sportsnet West or Sportsnet Plus.
Trevor Neufeld
@Trevor_Neufeld
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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