[GDT] Flames vs. Avalanche, 7 pm, SNF

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Flames: 30-35-5, 65 points, 6th in Pacific, 12th in West, 26th in NHL.

Avalanche: 36-31-4, 76 points, 5th in Central, 8th in West, 17th in NHL.


Continuing our end of the year evaluation, I will focus on players who definitely have a final grade from me.

Johnny Gaudreau (A): G-26, A-44, P-70, +7. What a shining star Gaudreau has become. No sophomore slump for him obviously. Gaudreau has been roughly a point-per-game player all year long, despite some tough offensive stretches for his most common line mates, Monahan and Hudler. As well, being a plus player on such a bad team is nothing short of impressive, especially for an undersized forward playing in the Western Conference. As it sits today, Gaudreau is 6th in league scoring, tied with Kuznetsov, and just 3 points behind Tyler Seguin for 3rd in the league. Not bad kid...not bad at all.

Matt Stajan (C-): G-4, A-11, P-15, -8. Stajan's game has slipped yet again. Last year he was able to provide important minutes on the penalty kill and chipped in enough offense to be respectable. He's gone from 33 points in 66 games in 13/14, to 17 points in 59 games in 14/15, to just 11 points in 68 games this year, and limited 4th line minutes. Not sure why it's been such a challenge for Stajan this year, as his game doesn't seem to look much different. However, I will say I haven't see as much determination or hustle from him this year and he seems to be going through the motions. With a couple more years on his contract, I just hope he finds a way to come back next year ready to contribute more.

Mason Raymond (D-): G-4, A-1, P-5, -3. Not much to say about Raymond anymore. He's likely done as an NHLer. He can't do anything at the NHL level except shoot the puck, and even that he can't do with enough regularity to be useful. I openly wonder how much his previous back injuries are catching up with him, as he looks incredibly awkward and stiff out there. Seems to be a prime buyout candidate this off-season depending on how other contract negotiations go.

Dennis Wideman (F): G-2, A-17, P-19, -9. I don't want to be too hard on Wideman, as he wasn't the sole problem on this team this year, but he didn't do what he was paid to do, and that's score goals and put up points. I can live with the defensive gaffes and the slow foot speed if he's scoring, but he probably was the single biggest reason our power play was so awful for so long this year. Being on the top PP unit and continually shooting the puck into shin pads can single handedly destroy any flow on the power play. Plus, poor decision making almost regularly makes for a very flawed defenseman. Even with 3rd pairing minutes, Wideman had at least one heart-attack moment per game. Attackers are starting to blow by him with ease, so next year might be even worse for him in the defensive zone. However, if he regains his offensive swagger, there's hope that he could be a serviceable power play specialist who can play on the 3rd pair. That season would have probably earned him a D, but add in the Don Henderson incident and the black eye it gave the Flames organization, and there's no way I could give him anything other than an F.

Jonas Hiller (F---): 9-10-1, GAA: 3.41, Sv%: .883. If there were a "Z" grade, that's what I would give Hiller. Just an absolute wreck of a season. Let the team down time and again with terribly weak goals. I'm honestly shocked that he has 9 wins on the year. After such a solid campaign last year, I'm extremely disappointed in Hiller this year. I never had very high expectations of him during his time here, as I viewed him as merely a capable NHL goalie who has consistency issues, 1A/1B. This year I wouldn't even rank him 3rd on the Flames depth chart, as I think Kevin Poulin would probably have given the Flames a better chance to win most nights. He had a very poor start to the year, got better in his spot duty backing up Ramo, and then when Ramo went down he completely dropped the ball again, essentially eliminating any chance of the post-season for the Flames at such a crucial time of the year. Goodbye Jonas Hiller. Don't let the door hit your butt on the way out.


Roster Notes: All of the following players are doubtful for tonight's game for the Flames: Dennis Wideman, T.J. Brodie, Sam Bennett, and Ladislav Smid. No word yet on a defenseman recall, so there is a slim possibility we see Brodie tonight. For the Avs, Landeskog will serve the last of his 3 game suspension tonight. Chris Bigras is out with a concussion. Brad Stuart is out for the year with back surgery, and Jesse Winchester is still out with concussion-like symptoms. Lineups are based on recent practice, and are subject to updates throughout the day. Both starting goalies are confirmed.

Edit: Brodie likely to play as per sureLoss.


Flames
Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Colborne-Backlund-Hathaway
Bouma-F. Hamilton-Frolik
Bollig-Stajan-Jooris

Giordano-Brodie
Jokipakka-D. Hamilton
Engelland-Nakladal

Ortio

Avalanche
Grigorenko-Duchene-Iginla
Boedker-Mackinnon-Comeau
Matthias-Söderberg-Martinsen
McLeod-Mitchell-Skille

Beauchemin-Johnson
Holden-Barrie
Gelinas-Redmond

Varlamov




Go Flames Go!!!!!!

[Puppet Guy]

Never say with flowers what you can say with napalm:

Spoiler!

Go Flames

[skudr248]

Nm

[Vinny01]

I would rather the Avs make playoffs than the Wild so who's be fine with a loss tonight. Wins are always fun so there is a no lose situation happening for me tonight.

I hope Johnny, Monahan, Backlund, Gio, Frolik, Hamilton put up some points

[CroFlames]

I'd rather see the Avs in the playoffs too.

[Badgers Nose]

10-1 Flames. Backlund with 10 points and the own goal.

[Toonage]

Flames win this one 4-3, and within a week could be looking at the 2nd wildcard spot.

Scary but true.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Flames win this one 4-3, and within a week could be looking at the 2nd wildcard spot.

Scary but true.

hahaha what? They're 11 points back.

Could you imagine though? "Flames finish season 12-0 to gain unlikely playoff berth".

Backstrom starts game 1 vs. Kings

[FBI]

The puppet is venturing out of the laundry room lately!

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by heep223

hahaha what? They're 11 points back.

Could you imagine though? "Flames finish season 12-0 to gain unlikely playoff berth".

Backstrom starts game 1 vs. Kings

So much tank talk, figured I'd go in the extreme opposite direction.

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by FBI

The puppet is venturing out of the laundry room lately!

Yeah, the little sociopath learned how to pick the locks and is now unleashing his mayhem on the world at large. Just remember: he's OUR little sociopath!

[polak]

My last game at the dome this season so I'm hoping they put on a show. Johnny with 6, Iginla with 7.... beers lined up for me after the game

[Hatter]

I hope the Flames win and Iggy gets his 20th!

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by Toonage

So much tank talk, figured I'd go in the extreme opposite direction.

You, Yeah you. You're all right.

[TomLeeMC]

Pretty sure this is a must win.

Go Flames Go. Hamilton sets up Mony for the game winner! Ortio with another confidence building W.

[Harry Lime]

Looking at that Avalanche lineup, it's a classic Iginla led team. The top six are strong, and the bottom six has Soderberg, and a bunch of dudes.

I think that Backlund shuts down the first line, and Colorado doesn't have a response.
Flames win.

[sureLoss]

Flames won't need to call up anyone

Ryan Leslie @ryanleslie73
Brodie in tonight vs the Avs

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
Sounds like Brodie returns for the #Flames tonight. Wideman won’t go but no emergency recall needed. Bennett won’t play.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Any team with Blake Comeau in their top two lines doesn't deserve to be a playoff team.

Wildcards tonight will be Varlamov and Barrie. Varlamov can steal a game when he's on.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Bump.

Already halfway down the page.

Does nobody care about the games anymore?

[TomLeeMC]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Bump.

Already halfway down the page.

Does nobody care about the games anymore?

It seems that way. Even the Dome was quiet against the Blues, though it was a Monday.

Didn't have to wait in line for Beers, during the first intermission bank machine had one person in front of me using it, and the washrooms didn't have lineups out the door!!!

I'm guessing today being Friday will be busier but man Monday was fun.