Todd Cordell: G76 Calgary Flames vs Los Angeles Kings: Five things to watch

Torie Peterson has Smith getting the start.

Flames can pretty much effectively clinch the West tonight.

Torie Peterson has Smith getting the start.
- tincup

Kind of seems like Peters is settling in with Smith as the number 1 going into the post season. If Smith starts tonight as indicated, it will be his 3rd (or 4th?) straight start and he has looked decent in all of them.

I am ok with going with Smith to start the playoffs, but keep him on a very short leash. I have a feeling that if Rittich was called in to play after Smith begins as the starter, he (Rittich) may actually be more likely to deliver the goods - than if he is given the starting job at the beginning of the playoffs.

Torie Peterson has Smith getting the start.
- tincup

I saw Rittich was getting the nod when I started my blog. Now I see he's out. changing now

Peters said Ritter has been under the weather all weekend.

Who knows who’s going to start the playoffs. 🤷🏽‍♂️

Peters said Ritter has been under the weather all weekend.

Who knows who’s going to start the playoffs. 🤷🏽‍♂️
- jessehub

I bet Peters doesn't even know. I have a feeling it'll go the way of the season, back and forth.

From Eric Francis...

Drew Doughty just teed off on Matthew Tkachuk, who he'll face tonight: "No respect for him, none. I respect everyone else. I’ll never talk to him off the ice. ... He’s not respected by most of the people in the league, it’s not just me – that’s just a fact." Full story to follow

Flames can pretty much effectively clinch the West tonight.
- Hunkulese

I think they need 2 wins to mathematically clinch the pacific and west. With 2 LA and 2 Ana games left, its looking good.

Tonight and one more...give mony some rest

I think they need 2 wins to mathematically clinch the pacific and west. With 2 LA and 2 Ana games left, its looking good.

Tonight and one more...give mony some rest
- numbear

We'll not mathematically, effectively. If everyone wins tonight, they'll be six up with six to go, that's almost insurmountable. If they win and San Jose and Winnipeg lose, they'll be 8 up with 6 to go, which is pretty much impossible.

From Eric Francis...

Drew Doughty just teed off on Matthew Tkachuk, who he'll face tonight: "No respect for him, none. I respect everyone else. I’ll never talk to him off the ice. ... He’s not respected by most of the people in the league, it’s not just me – that’s just a fact." Full story to follow
- jessehub

Haha, I think Doughty says something like this every time they play. Love how he's speaking for everyone in the league now.

From Eric Francis...

Drew Doughty just teed off on Matthew Tkachuk, who he'll face tonight: "No respect for him, none. I respect everyone else. I’ll never talk to him off the ice. ... He’s not respected by most of the people in the league, it’s not just me – that’s just a fact." Full story to follow
- jessehub

Rent free.

From Eric Francis...

Drew Doughty just teed off on Matthew Tkachuk, who he'll face tonight: "No respect for him, none. I respect everyone else. I’ll never talk to him off the ice. ... He’s not respected by most of the people in the league, it’s not just me – that’s just a fact." Full story to follow
- jessehub

Well, I’d say he’s a little worried about playing him!

Hey Doughty! What place is your club in again? Young guys don't give a sh!t what you think. Fcuk off ya washed up bum.

Nice power play tonight

Doughty gets one shift against Chucky all night and takes a dumb penalty. The guy doesn't even need to do anything to get into Doughty's head anymore and it's hilarious.

As for the game as a whole, this is looking like just one of those games where the bounces aren't going our way. Still lots of time left to get one though.

go Detroit go

go Detroit go
- numbear

Jeezus the Sharks are sucking hard down the stretch.

Nice power play tonight
- novak14

Man that was a rough game to watch.

I know everyone is all super positive these days and any opposing opinion is seen as doom and gloom but IMO Monahan is not playing well at all. I remember Friedman mentioned something about him a couple weeks ago saying that he was not sure if it was an injury or a personal issue.

Man that was a rough game to watch.

I know everyone is all super positive these days and any opposing opinion is seen as doom and gloom but IMO Monahan is not playing well at all. I remember Friedman mentioned something about him a couple weeks ago saying that he was not sure if it was an injury or a personal issue.
- DuranDuran

All I know for sure is that it's not just a cold streak. I'm 90% sure he's injured and they're waiting to clinch pacific before sitting him.

He can't receive a flat pass, he's passing up on open slot shots or just bobbling it in general, and he's looking slower than Neal.

Without trying to sound too dramatic we are screwed if he racked up the same injuries as last year.