[GDT] Flames @ Avalanche, 7:30 PM MST. Sportsnet 360, Fan 960

[Puppet Guy]

Gotta get back on track - the Flames can't dwell on last night's loss, as there's another wild card battle to wage tonight against the Avalanche. What sort of line-shuffles await? Does Nick Shore draw in? Does David Rittich? Can the GDT have some positivity? I'm dying to find out all of it!


Our Hero's been listening to his John Denver records again; Colorado is "Rocky Mountain High", he sang. Well, not for long...

Spoiler!

Go Flames

[Toonage]

So much for the team to play for and so much for Rittich to prove tonight. Can't see how they don't win it. My only concern is how the lines are going to look.

Stewart out already?
Stajan to the wing?
Shore at center?

[Gaskal]

Sounds like Bernier is still out and Varlamov is tending the twine, who has been bouncing back and forth between sieve and brick wall with seemingly no in-between. Seems to struggle on the road sometimes.

We got sieve last time, let's hope for the same.

[direwolf]

They ran into a wall last night with Bishop. Play the exact same way tonight, and they'll probably win. Huge 2 points up for grabs tonight!

I'd love to see Bennett back on the top line to start this game.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Mackinnon is playing out of his mind right now. Hopefully Backlund can lock him down again. That's the key matchup of the night from my POV.

[MPE907]

That John Denver's full of s***, man

[colbym72]

Hopefully GG can find ways to get 3M out against MacKinnon on the road.

[Poe969]

Does shore start on the top line tonight?

I really hope they put Bennett on that line and keep him there until he's good enough to carry a line by himself. The kid needs to rack up some points and gain confidence.

[EVERLAST]

Bennett back on the top line please. Stewart did okay but needs to be with 2 responsible defensive forwards such as Fro and backs if he plays again tonight.

Tkachuk needs his own line as he's fine driving his own line.

Let's get some points in regulation boys.



Last night I think this team quit on itself on certain shifts because of then officials....we just have to play and not let that crap in our heads.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Does shore start on the top line tonight?

I really hope they put Bennett on that line and keep him there until he's good enough to carry a line by himself. The kid needs to rack up some points and gain confidence.

My gut says

Gaudreau - Monahan - Bennett
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
?????? - Jankowski - ?????
Stajan/???? - ????/Stajan - Brouwer

I just don't know

Guessing Stewart goes to the third line right wing spot.

Stajan stays in because he needs 11 games for 1000 (and is actually good if you ignore his contract).

Does Lazar move up to the third line with Jankowski?
Where does Hathaway go if Stewart is one line three and Brouwer on line four?

[kukkudo]

Want to see these lines tonight.

Gaudreau-Monahan-Bennett
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Brouwer-Jankowski-Stewart
Stajan-Shore-Hathaway

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Wild GM

Mackinnon is playing out of his mind right now. Hopefully Backlund can lock him down again. That's the key matchup of the night from my POV.

Originally Posted by colbym72

Hopefully GG can find ways to get 3M out against MacKinnon on the road.

1.) Start Monahan line
2.) Win faceoff
3.) Ice the puck/dump it in while calling MacKinnon names
4.) Repeat steps 2-3 until Bednar gets mad and finally puts out a line other than MacKinnon's

[Phaneufenstein]

Wills in the morning said that Shore is likely to draw in the lineup tonight.

[JurassicTunga12]

Must win game?

[ComixZone]

I'd like to see:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Bennett
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Shore - Jankowski - Lazar
Brouwer - Stajan - Stewart

Use Shore on the 2nd PK unit, and on faceoffs on the right side of the ice.

[EVERLAST]

I hope we play Shore and Stewart....2 players with something to prove even though Stewart is scary defensively and should be out with to non liability guys.

Hopefully the guys are just grumpy after last night and come In with a solid effort.

[belsarius]

I'd like to see..

Gaudreau - Monahan - Bennett
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Stajan - Jankowski - Stewart
Lazar - Shore - Brouwer

I know I will take some flack for Stajan on the third line but I think seeing Shore at centre is the best use of him and Stajan has been pretty good lately and I think could be a good stabilizer for that line.

I don't expect any offense out of the bottom 6, but then again that is nothing new this season.

[bubbsy]

please just win.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Stewart could very well get some chemistry going with Shore. I'd like to see Tkachuk with Gaudreau and Monahan and Brouwer up with Backlund and Frolik, moving Frolik to LW for the time being until Ferland is ready to go:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Tkachuk
Frolik - Backlund - Brouwer
Bennett - Jankowski - Hathaway
Stajan - Shore - Stewart

[Calgary4LIfe]

Colorado is such a Jekyll and Hyde team this year. One one hand, you have to think that they will want some revenge for the Flames' rather 'easy' game against them not long ago. On the other hand, it is Colorado, and it seems you never know.

I still expect the Flames to roll over them simply due to Backlund. If Gulutzan can line match well enough on the road tonight, MacKinnon will probably get neutralized again, and without MacKinnon, Colorado kind of sucks.

Should be a fun game, and I predict a Flames' win. Both teams are hungry, but the Flames have been playing better, and I think are better able to shut-down the top line.