Hey, I found visual evidence that David Jones not only plays for the Flames, but made a positive contribution!
I'm really wishing we weren't the back end of the Alberta trip for road teams. For some reason, good teams keep losing to the Edmonton Oilers, they feel embarrassed, and then they want to take it out on us. Last night the Canadiens were shutout by one of the worst defensive teams in the league. If they don't score 4 or 5 tonight I'll be surprised. Interestingly, while the Canadiens have the best record in the league (tied with Anaheim), they've some how done it by scoring less than they are scored against. GFA is 2.56 (just .06 ahead of the Flames fairly weak offense), and their GAA is 2.78 (the Flames compare at 2.20). Their 5 on 5 GF/GA ratio is in the bottom 10 at 0.94. PP% is 23rd at just over 11%. PK is top 10 at over 86%. They are middle of the pack in shots for and shots against. Even the goaltending has been average, with both goaltenders having a sub .915 save %. How are they winning so much? Perhaps someone who is more familiar with advanced stats can make a cohesive argument. I just don't get it and I think the Habs are going to fall back to the middle of the pack soon.
The Flames were stymied by Barry Trotz suffocating defensive system implemented by…The Washington Capitals? Of all teams.

Still, credit being given to the Caps, the Flames weren't quite at the top of their game in that one. Given a few days to step away from the game, get some rest, and refocus should give the Flames the energy advantage over the Habs who are playing back to back games on the road. Some new energy returns to the lineup in the form of David Jones, who has been out with a lower body injury for several weeks. If nothing else, Jones bring size and the ability to play the body and score the odd goal, although it may take him a couple games to get back into the swing of things. The unfortunate thing is a roster decision needs to be made to allow him to join the team, meaning that a player like Josh Jooris (or god forbid Johnny Gaudreau) will be sent down to Adirondack to allow it. It's possible a player like Setoguchi is waived, but I don't know how management feels about his situation, so often the easier decision is to send down a player that you won't lose to waivers, unfortunate as it is. Regardless of the decision, I would like to see CP NOT explode and claim the sky is falling.
It should be an entertaining game tonight, and one that the Flames can win if they play a sound game. Lineups are 100% guesses with roster moves to come today. Raymond is not likely to play, and Byron was ill yesterday. SureLoss, we're all counting on you!
Flames
Hudler-Monahan-Colborne
Gaudreau-Backlund-
Setoguchi Byron
Glencross-Stajan-Jones
Bollig-Bouma-
McGrattan Jooris
Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Smid-Engelland
Hiller
Canadiens
Pacioretty-Desharnais-Gallagher
Parenteau-Plekanec-Galchenyuk
Weise-Eller-Bourque
Moen-Malhotra-Prust
Emelin-Subban
Gilbert-Markov
Weaver-Beaulieu
Price
Go Flames Go!