Win streak over, consecutive point streak still alive. Tonight the Flames looks to stampede Buffalo.
some game news, courtesy of
www.calgarysun.com
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The hosts will be shooting to start a new streak and to keep another alive. The Flames seven-game win spree was snapped in Saturday’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets, but they’ve still collected at least a point in eight straight dates. Their record at the Saddledome remains a cause for concern — at 12-11-1 in their own barn, they have the most mediocre home mark of any squad sitting in a playoff spot in the NHL’s Western Conference.
It’s been another miserable season for the Sabres. They were smoked in their last contest — Saturday’s 7-1 drubbing from the Dallas Stars — and with only 31 points, are sharing the basement in the NHL’s overall standings with the Arizona Coyotes. The Sabres are averaging a league-low 2.24 goals per game. On a positive note, star centre Jack Eichel is riding a five-game point streak, with three goals and six helpers during that stretch.
The Sabres don’t have a lot of fond memories at the Saddledome. The boys from Buffalo have suffered seven consecutive losses in Calgary. Their last victory? Way back on Oct. 18, 2003. Mika Noronen pitched a 20-save shutout that night for the out-of-town team, while Ales Kotalik — Flames fans probably don’t want to be reminded of that name — scored the would-be winner just 93 seconds after the opening faceoff.
Monday marks the return of Calgary-raised netminder Chad Johnson, now in his second stint with the Sabres. Johnson lived out a childhood dream with his hometown team last winter, and there were chats about an extension, but he was ultimately included in the swap for Mike Smith and eventually signed to be backup in Buffalo. The 31-year-old has a scary stat-line this season — a 3.85 goals-against average, an .878 save percentage and a dreadful 1-8-3 record in a dozen decisions.
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...and things are BLEAK in Buffalo (
https://thehockeywriters.com/sabres-...y-frustration/)
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There’s plenty of blame to go around at 1 Seymour Knox III Plaza in Buffalo. Answers are in short supply right now. Despite having a handful of talented players on the team, it’s been floundering in the basement of the league the whole year. These highly paid professional athletes are in a business in which winning matters and they are not. Fans are paying hard-earned money for tickets and entertainment/ They’re getting fleeced.
The home crowd shared their feelings on several occasions, booing the team off the ice. Many leave well before the midway point of the third period. The team’s effort is just not there.
At his press conference introducing him as head coach last year, Housley’s talk of playing an exciting, up-tempo offense, fueled by fast-skating defensemen and quick outlet passes, was fool’s gold for management and fans. Spouting his philosophy without the necessary pieces to implement it was a recipe destined for failure this year. One look at the lineup should’ve proved that.
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Lineups (
www.dailyfaceoff.com)
FLAMES
Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Brouwer
Bennett - Jankowski - Hathaway
Hrivik - Stajan - Lazar
Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Hamonic
Kulak - Stone
Smith
SABRES
Girgensons -Eichel - Okposo
Wilson- O’Reilly - Reinhart
Kane - Larsson - Pominville
Nolan - Rodrigues - Baptiste
Scandella - Ristolainen
McCabe -Falk
Gorges - Nelson
Lehner
...and never mind that gentlemanly sport of fencing - That Darn Puppet likes broadswords! Hockey's a battle, and at the final buzzer there can be only one:
Go Flames