The Flames are tired…oh so tired. They only seemed to have enough energy for a 3rd period push last game in Columbus, after a disastrous first 10 minutes followed by some pretty even play between both teams. This is the last game in a long, 11 day, 6 game road trip to begin the year, where the longest stretch between games was all of 2 days. It's been an up and down affair on this trip, with good stretches of play and pretty abysmal stretches of play. However, the Flames have managed a 3-2 record so far on this trip with some gutsy efforts in Chicago and Nashville being the highlights.
The Jets on the other hand are rested, playing just once in the last 7 days, a 2-0 shutout loss to the Predators. They have not fared very well so far this year, going 1-3 with the lone win being the season opener where they scored 6 goals against the Coyotes. Since that game, they have scored just 1 goal in 3 games. Offense is supposed to be the Jets strength this year, but it hasn't been present lately. It's not for a lack of chances as the Jets are around the league average in shots per game, but the power play hasn't scored a single goal yet, albeit in only 12 opportunities. It doesn't help to have Evander Kane injured when the offense is struggling. On the flip side, the Jets have one of the four 100% PKs to start the year, killing all 18 penalties so far.
The Flames will be without their spark plug in the last game, Josh Jooris, as he nurses an upper body injury that is likely day-to-day, but could be worse. That factor, along with the speed of the Jets, means that both Gaudreau and Setoguchi will likely slide back into the lineup. No updates for Engelland, meaning he will likely sit out again while he recovers, and Jones is out for the foreseeable future. Hiller gets the start tonight.
Lineups are mere guesses. More information will be made available throughout the day. Wills tweeted possible Flames lineups.
Flames
Raymond-Backlund-Gaudreau
Colborne-Monahan-Hudler
Glencross-Stajan-Setoguchi
Bollig-Bouma-Byron
Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Smid-Diaz
Hiller
Jets
Ladd-Little-Byfuglien
Perrault-Scheifele-Wheeler
Frolik-Lowry-Thorburn
Galiardi-Slater-Peluso
Trouba-Bogosian
Enstrom-Stuart
Pardy-Postma
Pavelec
Go Flames Go!
Flames @ Jets, 5 pm, CITY, SN960
