If you had asked about this matchup at the beginning of the season, most would have said "ugh, why bother". Both teams were perceived as being basement dwellers with very little to be positive about. Here we are well into November and both teams have way more points than anyone would have guessed. In terms of point percentage the Flames are 13th at 0.600 and while the Panthers points puts them 25th, their point percentage puts them 18th at 0.545. Both teams are built on strong defense and both are getting great goaltending. Both are doing it with strong team play and work ethic. Both have a good crop of young forwards that are finding their way in the NHL. Both have strong prospect pools pushing to make the NHL. Both have a very underrated defense group. Both have underrated leadership from their captains. Both have good coaches trying to build a positive atmosphere in the room (Gallant only just started this year, so has had less time making an impact). The similarities are shocking, which is why I've had no problem cheering for the Panthers as well as the Flames this year. The Panthers remind me so much of where the Flames were early last year, and are definitely a team on the rise. My loyalties are not in question of course. Today I will be donning my Flames jersey and wearing it proudly.
The Panthers are not easy points any more. They work hard and play a strong defensive game giving up only 2.09 GA/G so far. A lot of the credit is due to Luongo who is back in vintage form with a 2.31 GAA and a .925 SV%, but the team game has been strong. Ekblad is an 18 year old that looks like a veteran (although he does make some mistakes now and then). He's been making smart play after smart play all year and hasn't looked out of place on the top pairing
covering for playing with Brian Campbell. How many 18 year old defensemen have you said that about? The kid is a stud. Willie Mitchell has been an excellent addition becoming a coach on the ice and helping the young defenders become better, especially Kulikov and Gudbranson.
The forwards are not scoring a whole lot. It's been a painful process trying to find offense early in the season and the Panthers are 2nd last in the league in goals at 1.46 GF/G. Part of that is the injury situation has hit hard (sound familiar?) and the Panthers have been without Barkov, Huberdeau, Bolland, Bergenheim, and Pirri all in the last week. It was so bad that they had Colby Robak (a defenseman) on the wing in the loss to the Bruins earlier this week. The loss of Pirri especially hurt as he was flying, scoring 3 goals in his first 4 games and creating a lot of chances, when a cheap shot elbow took him out of the lineup with a concussion. Bjugstad, the Panthers leading scorer from a year ago, only has 2 points in 11 games. Barkov has 1 point in 9 games. Huberdeau has 2 points in 8 games. These are definitely below average numbers for these guys and it's only a matter of time before they start breaking out. That being said, call ups Vincent Trocheck and Rocco Grimaldi have been dangerous so far despite no points in 3 games.
The Flames are only too happy to encounter a sputtering offense after seeing the display the Lightning put on the other night. The Panthers are definitely missing their bite, and the Flames already play a solid defensive game to counter much of the attack. Ramo will be getting the start today, and he's well rested and ready to go which bodes well for the Flames. It looks like Montoya gets the start for the Panthers, but he's been just as good as Luongo so far, albeit in a much smaller sample size. After an off night, the Flames will have something to prove and will likely look to beat up on the Panthers if they can. Hartley and Co. are aware that the Panthers are a hard working, grind it out type of team now, so I doubt they are surprised by them. That being said, it's an afternoon game, and the Flames have been traditionally awful in these contests. Add in the time change by coming out east and it could be a sluggish affair for the good guys. Giordano and Monahan will have to lead the charge again for the team to come away with the 2 points. Russell and Wideman are definitely looking to have a bounce back game after a sub-par performance last game. Gaudreau should be getting healthier after battling the flu the last 2 games. Colborne is still skating with the team in a no-contact jersey, so is unlikely to be in today, but could possibly rejoin the team in Carolina.
*I'm really excited about this game today! If any other Flames fans are going to be at the game today, PM me so maybe we can meet up.
Flames
Glencross-Monahan-Jones
Gaudreau-Granlund-Hudler
Baertschi-Byron-Setoguchi
Bollig-Jooris-Bouma
Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Smid-Engelland
Ramo
Panthers
Jokinen-Barkov-Boyes
Huberdeau-Bjugstad-Upshall
Fleischman-Trocheck-Hayes
Kopecky-MacKenzie-Thornton
Campbell-Ekblad
Mitchell-Kulikov
Olsen-Gudbranson
Montoya
Go Flames Go!