Flames @ Panthers, 5:30 PM MST. Sportsnet Flames, Fan 960
Wasn't last night exciting? Topping the top team in the NHL in their own rink and looking dominant doing it? The Flames looks to continue their winning ways tonight in Sunrise against the Panthers.
The Panthers just finished a 1-2-1 road trip with an emphatic 7-4 win at the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, overcoming a 2-0 deficit.
”The last game on a trip, sometimes it’s a little hard to get into the game because you are thinking about going home,” Panthers center Vincent Trocheck told the Sun-Sentinel. “But I think giving up those two quick goals woke us up pretty quick.”
Panthers right winger Radim Vrbata returned against the Blues, scoring a goal after missing five straight games due to an illness.
The only Panthers player presently on the injured list is starting goalie Roberto Luongo, who has an injured right leg and is expected back in early February.
But the Panthers have done well without him, thanks to goalie James Reimer, who has saved the season by making 15 consecutive starts and playing brilliantly for most of that stretch.
The Panthers also lead the NHL with eight shorthanded goals, and they are 11-3-1 when Trochek scores any type of goal.
The Flames have 2 more games until their league mandated 5 day break and they are super hot right now. While the 5 game winning streak is impressive, it’s how they are getting it done that is head turning. Mike Smith has won 5 straight and hasn’t given up more than 3 goals in those 5 games. The Flames top line of Micheal Ferland, Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan is untouchable lately after having a bit of a cold streak in December. That trio has 26 points in their last 5, with Johnny Gaudreau leading the way with 10 of those 26. And not to be left out, the Flames special teams units are playing well. The Flames have scored 2 PPGs and killed off the last 15 penalties they’ve taken.
Calgary jumped right back into the Western Conference WC race and now hold the 7th spot, but there’s a log jam of teams within a point or 2 of each other. The Panthers meanwhile sit 6 points out the final WC spot in the East and have some serious ground to make up to get back in contention. The Panthers are 10-6-3 at BB&T Center this season, but Calgary has won 3 of their last 5 games in the swamp.
...and two games in two nights is a quick turnaround time for anyone, but That Darn Puppet makes the best of it and fits in a quick visit to the Everglades to see the local wildlife:
Spoiler!
Go Flames
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Wasn't last night exciting? Topping the top team in the NHL in their own rink and looking dominant doing it? The Flames looks to continue their winning ways tonight in Sunrise against the Panthers....
Oh Yeah??! YOU WIN ONE FU**ING GAME. One Game. HAVE YOU CHECKED THE STANDINGS?!! One f***king game. This is it. Is it. THIS IS IT! Lets' ****ing GO. Lets go. Lets go.
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Oh Yeah??! YOU WIN ONE FU**ING GAME. One Game. HAVE YOU CHECKED THE STANDINGS?!! One f***king game. This is it. Is it. THIS IS IT! Lets' ****ing GO. Lets go. Lets go.
Always fun to see how full the seats are for these ones.
Are you there tonight Cali?
Yup, I'll be there. Heck, you might even see me on camera since I'll be a few rows behind the benches. Look for the bearded fellow with the retro Monahan jersey.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ResAlien
If we can't fall in love with replaceable bottom 6 players then the terrorists have won.
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As I mentioned yesterday in the GDT, its this game that worries me more than last night's. Weird stuff goes down in this building. The Flames can win here, but its almost always wackiness.
I'm saying the Flames win, but its a closer game than yesterday. Might need OT.
Complete one line team, borderline Edmonton levels.
Shut down Barkov and we should have a good time.
Calgary and Florida have the exact same goals for per game at 2.81. The main difference has been defense. Calgary has it. Florida doesn't (at least not yet). Much of the core of the defense is very, very young, like 22 and under young. They should get better with time, but they had a rough start as a team defensively, and it's been slow progress ever since.
Reimer is on fire, but is due to give up a few softies every now and then. It just depends which version of him shows up tonight.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ResAlien
If we can't fall in love with replaceable bottom 6 players then the terrorists have won.
Another thing I should mention is that the Panthers have the 3rd most shots for per game in the league. It's part of Boughner's philosophy. He wants the team to average 70 shot attempts per game.
The only problem is this team also gives up by far the most shots against per game in the entire league.
Should be a wild one tonight! Expect lots of shots at both ends of the ice.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ResAlien
If we can't fall in love with replaceable bottom 6 players then the terrorists have won.
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Yup, I'll be there. Heck, you might even see me on camera since I'll be a few rows behind the benches. Look for the bearded fellow with the retro Monahan jersey.
We bought our retro Monahan's at the same time during that sale a few years back haha
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I don;t want to jump the gun here, but two more wins tonight and Sunday would insulate the Flames well for their 5 day break in terms of playoff positioning.
Should be a good game. Looking forward to watching Barkov. There aren't many players like him when he's on. His shootout goal vs the Jackets this week was pure filthiness.
Hopefully the Flames can keep this roll going!
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Yup, I'll be there. Heck, you might even see me on camera since I'll be a few rows behind the benches. Look for the bearded fellow with the retro Monahan jersey.
Good to know. I would have been looking for the guy with a bottle of Lagavulin.
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