[GDT] Flames @ Sabres, 5 pm, SNFlames

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Sorry for the late game thread. I have family visiting from Montreal.














Flames: 17-10-2, 36 points, 3rd in Pacific, 6th in West, 11th League

Sabres: 10-16-2, 22 points, 8th in Atlantic, 15th in East, 28th League


Tonight is the battle of the basement dwellers, or at least supposedly so to begin the year. If anyone would have told you that the Flames would be in a solid playoff position after nearly 30 games instead of battling Buffalo for last overall in the league, you would have been laughed out of the room. But here we are, and as good as the Flames have been there's been a bit of a lull in the past few games. Inability to finish, lack of a killer instinct, or finding a way to get ahead and stay ahead have been the major issues for a team that found a way to win any game, whether they played well or not. Well the law of averages has dictated the recent string of games where they actually played quite well and deserved a better fate, but ended up in the loss column. It's either the law of averages or, maybe, the hockey gods? Either way, the Flames are going to have to battle tonight against a team that has been just as good as they've been over the recent stretch, if not better.

Yes, Buffalo is 7-3-0 in their last 10 games, and it hasn't been against soft Eastern opponents either. No, they've managed to beat teams like L.A. and San Jose, along with Eastern powers Montreal (twice) and Tampa Bay. As bad as they were to start the year, they've turned it around of late, thanks primarily to the excellent play of Jhonas Enroth. If you throw out one below average game against Tampa Bay (and they can make any goalie look average) his save percentage average over his last 7 games is .959. Those are unreal numbers and the Flames will have to not only overcome their inability to bury their chances of late, but also an extremely hot goaltender. Overall, the Sabres defense has improved from an atrocious beginning and are no longer dead last in the league. They still aren't great at 3.00 GA/G, but that's still better than 6 other teams. Similarly, their penalty kill sits at 22nd in the league, better than the Flames.

It's a good thing they've been keeping the puck out of the net because the Sabres still struggle mightily to score goals. They sit dead last in the league at 1.57 GF/G and also have the worst 5 on 5 ratio at 0.62. None of their players have had a multi-point game of late, and nobody is on any kind of point streak to speak of. Their power play is an atrocious 7.5%, which is also dead last. Tyler Ennis leads the team with 17 points, and there doesn't seem to be any help in sight to improve the offense much more this season.

It's a night where the Flames defense should be able to finally handle a team's attack, compared to the last two games where the Sharks and Leafs overmatched the Flames with a combination of speed and physicality, the Sabres don't offer much of either, especially with Chris Stewart playing such a soft game. Let's hope he doesn't wake up tonight after being a healthy scratch last game. Still, the Flames have shown at times that they can be very effective defensively even though their GA/G has risen steadily throughout the year. Ramo has been very solid of late, so it will take some big mistakes from the Flames (which I'm sure they're trying to correct), or some incredible play from an anemic offense. As always, the Flames can only beat themselves tonight.



Ramo is the confirmed starter. Colborne is a game time decision and lack of conditioning is a non-factor for his status, but a pain-free wrist is. If he's in the lineup I have no idea where everyone slots in.

Flames
Glencross-Monahan-Byron
Gaudreau-Jooris-Hudler (Colborne?)
Raymond-Granlund-Jones
Bollig-Stajan-Bouma

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Smid-Engelland

Ramo


Stewart should be back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch. Ennis was not at practice yesterday, but should be ready to go.

Sabres
Moulson-Girgensons-Ennis
Flynn-Mitchell-Gionta
Foligno-Hodgson-Stafford
Deslauriers-McCormick-Stewart

Gorges Myers
Ristolaien Zadorov
Benoit Weber

Enroth



Go Flames Go!!!

[zukes]

No snow here in London, but as close as 20 minutes east they are getting hit, and pretty much all the way to Buffalo, but weather willing, I will be at the game tonight.

Flames win 3-1.

[Huntingwhale]

I will be upset if we lose this one.

[sureLoss]

Sabres have healthy scratched Hodgson

[jg13]

We need to score early in this game. That Enroth is so hot right now

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Sabres have healthy scratched Hodgson

He and Stewart have really struggled. If the Flames truly believe they are playoff material this is a game they need to win especially given the next two game are against elite opponents. They need to get their finish back tonight as the Sabres are playing well.

[Calgary4LIfe]

A game that would have been touted as a "How do we lose this one against this team?" from both sides, instead is a "How can we win this one?" from both sides. I didn't think Buffalo was tanking - not with the UFA moves they made anyways. Though it is obviously not a great team, I just didn't think they were tankers. Nice to see them play with some integrity even though the season was over for them before it started.

Hopefully Calgary can help them compete with the Oilers in the standings, but no team is that bad it seems. Won't be that easy of a game unless the Flames get a couple of goals early on.

[Vinny01]

First must win of the season. The way the Sabres have played of late this one won't be easy. I don't think the Flames will take them lightly and should come out on top tonight

[getbak]

If Colborne plays, you have to think that Bollig will draw the short straw and sit. If Ferland gets sent down this afternoon, it will be a good sign that Colborne is ready.


Buffalo is one of those cities, like Toronto and Anaheim, where the Flames have traditionally done poorly. Last year's OT win was the first time the Flames left Buffalo with 2 points since 1996.

I just hope the Sabres aren't wearing that horrible third jersey again tonight.




Did you know... Zemgus Girgensons was Johnny Gaudreau's line mate the one season that Johnny played in Dubuque in the USHL. Girgensons was also the player drafted with the Flames' 14th overall pick in 2012 when the Flames traded down to get Jankowski and Sieloff.

Girgensons is also leading the NHL All Star game voting by a massive margin. He has more than twice as many votes as any other player, and most of his votes are coming from his homeland of Latvia.

[sureLoss]

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames power play at morning skate:
Raymond-Monahan-Glencross
Brodie-Giordano

Gaudreau-Granlund-Hudler
Russell-Wideman

[sureLoss]

Stajan, Ferland, McGrattan, and Smid look to be the scratches

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
#Flames lines shaken up a bit this AM:
Bollig-Bouma-Raymond;
Glencross-Granlund-Jones;
Gaudreau-Jooris-Hudler;
Byron-Monahan-Colborne.

Wes Gilbertson @SUNGilbertson
Also, looks like #Flames D Raphael Diaz will be back in action

Kristen Odland @KristenOdlandCH
Looks like Stajan, Ferland, and McGrattan are the scratches. Same with Smid as Engelland and Diaz were paired together.

[_Q_]

^^ why is Monahan on the fourth line?? And what did Bouma and Bollig do to deserve to be promoted to the first line? Fire Hartley!

[killer_carlson]

between Hartley going public with needing more from the 3rd pairing to now being benched, this has been a tough week for Smid.

It will be interesting to watch him once he comes back.

I'll admit my surprise about Stajan though.

Stajan and Smid are $6.65 million sitting in the press box between the two of them.

[stemit14]

If colborne is back tonight... Does that mean someone has to be sent down?

[Bunk]

Definitely need to pick up the two points on this one.

[hummdeedoo]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Stajan, Ferland, McGrattan, and Smid look to be the scratches

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
#Flames lines shaken up a bit this AM:
Bollig-Bouma-Raymond;
Glencross-Granlund-Jones;
Gaudreau-Jooris-Hudler;
Byron-Monahan-Colborne.

Wes Gilbertson @SUNGilbertson
Also, looks like #Flames D Raphael Diaz will be back in action

Kristen Odland @KristenOdlandCH
Looks like Stajan, Ferland, and McGrattan are the scratches. Same with Smid as Engelland and Diaz were paired together.

If Raymond can shake off the rust quickly - I don't see him staying long on that 4th (1st?) line.

We might see a lot of line shuffling tonight.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by stemit14

If colborne is back tonight... Does that mean someone has to be sent down?

Yes. Probably Ferland.

[colbym72]

I know I am just being a fan so it's normal to worry and get anxious, but I wonder if all these changes in the lines over the next little bit as we get people back will hurt chemistry...Hopefully goaltending can steal some wins again and we can start cashing in on the powerplay...I'm such a knee jerk fan

[AcGold]

Glad Stajan is scratched, I think the injury ended his career. He's a great guy and I wish him the best but he doesn't help us get in the playoffs.

[FBI]

Yikes Engelland and Diaz could be even worse. Blah