[GDT] Flames vs. Rangers, 8 pm, CBC

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Throwback








Alright, that's enough...most of the images are too painful to continue. The Rangers have dominated the Flames over the last few years.


Flames: 12-14-2, 26 points, 7th in Pacific, 13th in West, 25th in NHL. Last 10 games: 6-3-1

Rangers: 18-9-3, 39 points, 2nd in Metropolitan, 3rd in East, 5th in NHL. Last 10 games: 3-6-1


The Flames are riding a hot streak, winning 4 in a row and 8 straight at home. Finishing up this recent 5 game home stand, the Flames have consistently found a way to win, reminding us all of why we should not give up on this team even though they are currently near the bottom of the standings. Confidence is clearly returning, and that bodes well for a team that's about to head out on a 4 game road trip through some tough buildings (Preds, Stars, Blues, Red Wings). Ending the home stand with a convincing win over a top team like the Rangers could spur the Flames on the road to win more than they lose. Lose to the Rangers tonight, and that road trip could become very ugly.

They'll have to do so battling the flu bug. Practice was actually cancelled yesterday to let everyone get rested, and probably also because they wanted to limit the rest of the team's exposure to the virus. As a result, everything is up in the air today. No idea who will be ready to go and who will suddenly fall ill. I'm just gonna ask sureLoss to be on the ball today with updates, as I currently have no idea what will happen lineup-wise.

The Rangers come in after an embarrassing loss to the Oilers, where even though they battled back twice in the game to tie it, they let it slip away time and again against an Oilers squad. It was their 2nd loss in a row, and their 4th in the last 5 games. The Rangers have been struggling mightily, and they haven't won 2 games back to back in more than 3 weeks. A far cry from earlier this year when they had a 9 game winning streak and didn't lose 2 in a row for 7 weeks. It's tough to figure out exactly what's wrong, but from what I can tell they score a lot when they give up a lot, and then when they're strong defensively, they struggle to score. Consistency seems to be a problem for a club that also went through a similar struggle last year.

If I were to ask you who the leading scorer for the Rangers was, would you have guessed Mats Zuccarello and not Rick Nash, Derek Stepan, or Chris Kreider? Yet the Rangers still rank 5th in goals, and have 3 guys already in double digits (Zuccarello, Brassard, Lindberg) and likely a 4th in the very near future as Nash has 9. It's also hard to imagine that they've struggled ever defensively when you look at their 4th ranked defense and goaltending. Both goaltenders have been really solid; Lundqvist sporting a .933 Sv% and 2.14 GAA, and Raanta being just as good with a .940 Sv% and 1.57 GAA. They're good 5 on 5, with only 2 players on the entire roster in the minus, but they're also really good on special teams, with the 8th ranked penalty kill and the 6th ranked power play. When you look at the whole of this Rangers team you'd have to think they'll be back in at least the Conference Finals. Yet they come in tonight struggling badly, which is really good news for the Flames

As for the Flames, the special teams are still painfully bad. Both rank dead last with very little signs of improvement. They aren't just last, they're last by a large margin. The power play is operating a 12.0%, which is a full 2.9% below the next lowest team, the Coyotes. The penalty kill is operating at 70.3%, a full 4.3% below the next worst team, the Hurricanes. The combined percentages are 82.3%, and to be a good team you should be at 100% or better. The goal differential just on special teams is now at -15, and the total goal differential is -26 (with quite a few empty netters against early on). The Flames are still bottom 5 in penalties, which is maybe why they are so bad on the PK, they don't get enough practice. This is could be the exact same reason for the poor power play, as the Flames draw the 5th fewest PP opportunities. At any rate, it needs to change immediately. There's far too much talent on this team to continue being so bad at special teams. I would not hesitate to throw a coach under the bus at this point, it's that bad.


Roster Notes: With the previously mentioned flu bug going through the Flames room, this is merely a guess based on what the team has gone with of late. Updates to be provided. The Rangers are missing the services of Derek Stepan and Kevin Klein, but are otherwise fairly healthy. Logic would dictate that Raanta will start tonight on the back to back, but Vigneault may go back to Lundqvist since he gave him most of the 3rd period off last night.


Flames
Gaudreau-Monahan-Jones
Bennett-Granlund-Hudler
Colborne-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Stajan-Jooris

Giordano-Brodie
Wideman-Hamilton
Smid-Engelland

Ramo

Rangers
Miller-Brassard-Zuccarello
Kreider-Hayes-Nash
Lindberg-Moore-Fast
Etem-Stoll-Glass

McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-Boyle
Yandle-McIlrath

Raanta



Go Flames Go!!!!!!

[868904]

Flames will probably get the best Rangers game after they lost poorly to both the Canucks and Oilers.

Nash always plays well against the Flames.

Flames better be prepared.

[Puppet Guy]

(apologies to Frank Sinatra)

"this hockey stick blaaaaaaaaaaade/ is yearnin' to strayyyyyyyyyyyy
Right through the very heart of 'em - NEW YORK, NEW YORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRK"

Spoiler!

Go Flames

[playmaker]

Flames 3



Rangers 1

[Erick Estrada]

I watch the better part of the Rangers last two games and they were absolutely horrible in both. What's the chances that continues? There is literally zero chance there goaltenders are as poor as they were last night.

[hockey.modern]

Please everyone, done be sick again tonight.

Edit: @Fan960Willis: Bob Hartley just told @Fan960Lou and me "As of now, everybody is good-to-go", including Kris Russell, who could return tonight. #CGYvsNYR

[Samonadreau]

Keys for the flames.

Dont be sick.
Special teams.

Go flames go.

[sureLoss]

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
Hiller starting the skate in the starter's net. #Flames

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by playmaker

Flames 3

Spoiler!

Rangers 1

Spoiler!

By my count that's 3-2.

[sureLoss]

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames proj. lines vs. #Rangers:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Jones
Bennett-Granlund-Hudler
Raymond-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Stajan-Colborne

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames projected pairings vs. #Rangers:
Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Hamilton
Wideman-Engelland
Goaltenders:
Hiller (Starter)
Ramo

[Da_Chief]

Russell back? Hiller starting again...gross.

[Vinny01]

If Russellmis back who sits on D? My pick would be Engellend, as Smid has been pretty solid and it gets the bottom 2 pairs lined up L-R again. *Edit* according to Wills looks like Smid sits

This is a big game the Flames need to keep pace. If they win both the Flames and Oilers will have 5-0 home stands brigand back a brief stint of the 80's where teams came into Alberta and left with 2 losses

[kyuss275]

very surprised that Hiller gets the start. Granted i don't like either goaltender.

[Yrebmi]

Thank you for the write up Cali, but not for the images.
I find it hard to believe you couldn't find a couple image showing us in a more positive light.
Loved the throw back though

[sureLoss]

Calgary Flames @NHLFlames
"Kris Russell is going to be a game-time decision." - Bob Hartley. The d-man skated this morning with that the team.

[Huntingwhale]

Time for some vengeance

[You Need a Thneed]

10-0 Flames. All 10 goals scored by defensemen.

[calgaryblood]

I hope Russel is healthy but doesn't play.

3-2 shootout win for the Flames.

[Machiavelli]

Win all the games!

[malcolmk14]

I managed to get two tickets in 118 tonight. It'll be after a company Christmas party so I don't know if I'll be able to stomach Mac and Cheese... but I'll certainly try.

3-1 Flames