[GDT] GTD - Flames and Blue Jackets: 7:00 PM - SNW

[Puppet Guy]

I really, really don't mean to steal the thunder from Halifax Drunk or Cali Panthers Fan, but I'm going to be away from the computer all day long and want to post today's photo. Anyone feel free to add photos and game info.

Evidently bowling is very popular in Ohio:

Spoiler!

GO FLAMES

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Flames: 22-24-3, 47 points, 6th in Pacific, 12th in West (tied with 2 others), 25th in NHL (tied with 4 other teams).

Blue Jackets: 20-28-5, 45 points, 8th in Metropolitan, 16th in East, 30th in NHL.


Well it looks like the Flames are finally out of their slump following one of their best efforts in months. The Flames dominated the red hot Hurricanes the other night to the tune of a 4-1 victory, with the help of Sean Monahan's 4 point night. They were skating hard, fast, and with determination. The passing was crisp and players were supporting each other well all over the ice. Ramo wasn't tested a lot, but he was as solid as ever. Yeah, it's not been the best year overall, but when this team puts their game together they are incredibly tough to beat.

They'll have to continue that strong team play without T.J. Brodie tonight. There's nothing official, but since he hasn't practiced since taking a puck to the lower thigh/knee area and exiting the game against Carolina, he's extremely doubtful for tonight. It might not be long term, but it could keep Brodie out for a few games. More updates on this situation later. It looks as though Jakub Nakladal will finally make his NHL debut for the Flames tonight. I know we've all been anxious to see what he can do at this level, so here's hoping he at least has a solid showing.

As for the Blue Jackets...yet another lost season. Nothing has quite come together for them all year long, but to be fair, they've had absolutely horrible luck with the goaltending situation. Sergei Bobrovsky has been either out with an injured groin, or nursing a tender groin all year long. For a goalie, that injury severely reduces their effectiveness, yet despite that Goalie-Bob has managed a 2.65 GAA and .911 Sv%. The play of Curtis McElhinney has left a lot to be desired, sporting a pitiful .888 Sv%, resulting in an inflated 3.33 GAA. Tough for Curtis, because before this year he had been a serviceable backup for the BJs. The savior has been Joonas Korpisalo, giving the team a fighting chance to win most nights while both Bobrovsky and McElhinney have been out with injury. The 21 year old Finn looks like he might be a long term solution for their net, and Tortorella has been very vocal in praising his play so far. Last night he made 37 saves against the Vancouver Canucks, letting in just 1 goal and posting a .974 Sv%. In fact, outside of a poor game against Edmonton where his save percentage dipped down to .857 (due to a poor game overall by his team in front of him), he's only had 1 game in his past 8 where his save percentage was below .933. That game you ask? Against the Calgary Flames.

It's the defense and goaltending that's been a sore spot for the Blue Jackets all year, but they score enough goals to win (ranked 14th). The wily veteran Hartnell leads the team in points with just 36 after the departure of Johanssen, but the trade for Saad has worked out well as he has a team leading 19 goals. Let's not forget the breakout years for Cam Atkinson and Boone Jenner, who both have 17 goals on the year. It's perplexing because the personnel for the BJs isn't that terrible, yet their systems are in shambles and their goaltending has cost them plenty of games. Slowly their systems are getting better (IMO anyway), and with Korpisalo's very strong play, this team could play the spoiler role very well down the stretch this year. It would behoove the Flames to not take them lightly, even though they're coming tired on the second half of back to back games on the road.


Roster Notes: As mentioned, Brodie is likely out, but no official word on his status. Jakub Nakladal will likely draw in tonight. Wideman is appealing his suspension, but no changes yet to his 20 game suspension. No changes to the forwards are expected. Ramo is the confirmed starter. For Columbus, both Bobrovsky and McElhinney are injured, making Korpisalo the de facto starter. However, he did play last night so it wouldn't be surprising to see his backup Anton Forsberg get the start. Both David Savard and Dave Clarkson continue to remain on IR.


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

Giordano-Hamilton
Russell-Engelland
Smid-Nakladal

Ramo

Blue Jackets
Jenner-Dubinsky-Atkinson
Saad-Wennberg-Foligno
Hartnell-Karlsson-Calvert
Rychel-Campbell-Bourque

Murray-Jones
Johnson-Falk
Tyutin-Prout

Korpisalo




Go Flames Go!!!!!!

[dissentowner]

The Flames either need to go on a huge winning streak or lose out. None of this win one/lose one crap as that won't help anything.

[Puppet Guy]

Mods, please close my GDT.

Evidently bowling is very popular in Ohio:

Spoiler!

GO FLAMES

[Puppet Guy]

mods, please merge or close.

[Poe969]

I would have went with some kind of BJ joke but I get the bowling...

If the Flames lose tonight, it's a log jam of teams tied for 30th... I hate that the Columbus has looked ok in some games and terrible in others because I'd hate to lose to them tonight.

[heep223]

Brodie will play. GFG

[Gaudfather]

Interested to see how Nakladal looks.

And of course what Tortorella might say.

GFG.

[Toonage]

2 of 12 in a row. Back to winning in their 3rd jerseys too. Flames take this one 5-2

[polak]

We need a streak. Haven't had tickets to a weekend game in a while.

I'm going to drink every time a stick touches the ice.

[GranteedEV]

The Blue Jackets are too horrible for the Flames to lose, but dropping this one could have huge Matthews implications and at this point playoffs are a pipe dream with Anaheim and San Jose building huge cushions on .500 while we are still looking to get back to .500

I'll just look at this game as a win-win. Win, and we don't have to see them lose. Lose, and one step closer to Auston Matthews. Should be good.

[MrMastodonFarm]

That's awesome PuppetGuy, love those weird posts. And no need to apologise, no one has a monopoly one starting Game Day Threads.

[Fire in the disco]

4-1 Flames, 4 point night for Widedog (worked last game!)

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

The Blue Jackets are too horrible for the Flames to lose, but dropping this one could have huge Matthews implications and at this point playoffs are a pipe dream with Anaheim and San Jose building huge cushions on .500 while we are still looking to get back to .500

I'll just look at this game as a win-win. Win, and we don't have to see them lose. Lose, and one step closer to Auston Matthews. Should be good.

I didn't see their game last night but if they play anything like they did against the Oilers the Flames would have to totally crap the bed to lose this game.

[ssjshmo]

Its Western Night! Any chance someone heard and recorded the annual Western skit thing Boomer does on the morning show for this night? Its laden with lame jokes related to Flames players

[Gaskal]

Will be attending this one live again. Predicting a 3-0 for the good guys.

[sureLoss]

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
Brodie on the ice this morning. #Flames

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg
TJ Brodie is on the ice with the #Flames for morning skate. He’s still a question mark for tonight, though.

[flamesfan1297]

Just saw on twitter that Roger Millions said TJ Brodie will skate this morning and is questionable for tonight

EDIT:in the time it took me to type that two people above me posted the same news

[Poe969]

and our collective breath is being held. I feel a lot less confident about tonight's game if Brodie isn't on the back end.