[GDT] Flames @ Avalanche, 8 pm, CBC

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Morning everyone. Great game last night that I was unable to watch due to a wedding. I didn't get in until 3 A.M. and I had a few cocktails, so I'm going to be lazy and leave the preview to NHL.com

Season series: The Calgary Flames are making their only visit of the season to Pepsi Center. They defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in overtime at Scotiabank Saddledome on Dec. 4. Defenseman Dennis Wideman tied the game with 1:17 left in regulation, and Sean Monahan won it 1:47 into OT.

Flames team scope: Calgary continues to thrive despite the loss of captain and No. 1 defenseman Mark Giordano, who's out for the season with a torn biceps muscle sustained in late February. The Flames are 5-1-1 without Giordano after rolling over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Friday to move into second place in the Pacific Division. The line of Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau and Jiri Hudler combined for four goals and nine points. "They're responsible, they're playing the right way, and it's as simple as this," coach Bob Hartley said. "They're picking up tons of points playing the right way, and that's why we're winning games." The Flames blew the game open by scoring two shorthanded goals, one by Monahan, while killing a five-minute penalty in the first period.

Avalanche team scope: Time is running out on Colorado's hopes of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but the Avalanche are battling to the end. Colorado enters its final home game before a five-game road trip with a 4-1-0 record this month, including a 2-1 shootout victory against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. The Avalanche are six points behind the Los Angeles Kings, who hold the second wild card in the Western Conference. "Every point is crucial right now," coach Patrick Roy told the Avalanche website. "It doesn’t change anything to our objective; [our] objective remains the same. We just need to be ready for Calgary right now." Goalie Semyon Varlamov is expected to start; Reto Berra will be his backup after Calvin Pickard was returned to Lake Erie of the American Hockey League on Friday.

Roster Notes: Jooris was a late scratch last night for the Flames, and at this point it's assumed that he's not playing at 100%. Smid is done for the year due to a neck/vertebrae injury that is in an area of previous surgery. Douglas Murray is skating with the team as a depth insurance policy for the regular season only. No word on Byron's return. Bouma might get a review for a suspension, but he should play tonight until that's decided. Ramo gets the start tonight. For the Avs, Erik Johnson and Nathan MacKinnon are out long term, joining the ranks as such depth players like Jamie McGinn, Ryan Wilson, and Jesse Winchester. Pickard was returned to the AHL and Varlamov should be the starter, while Berra is the backup.


Flames
Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Bouma?-Backlund-Jones
Raymond-Shore-Colborne
Bollig-Stajan-Ferland

Russell-Wideman
Brodie-Engelland
Schlemko-Diaz

Ramo


Avalanche
Landeskog-O'Reilly-McLeod
Caron-Duchene-Iginla
Tanguay-Cliche-Everberg
Hamilton-Mitchell-Briere

Guenin-Barrie
Hejda-Redmond
Stuart-Holden

Varlamov




Go Flames Go!!! ...ouch...that made my head hurt.

[Hatter]

The way the Flames are playing right now gives Colorado no chance in this one. Flames win 4-2.

[fanman]

Go Flames! We want more points!

2nd game of a back-to-back. I have a feeling we see Monahan's line step up again.

[sureLoss]

Note on Jooris, Millions said last night he was scratched because he had the flu.

[MillerTime GFG]

What a huge day today is between this game and all the OOT games.
Go Flames go.
Ho Hawks go.
Go Leafs go.
Go Bolts go.
Go Blues go.
Go Preds go.

That's not asking for too much I don't think.

[A Shot Wide]

How dare you post a picture of Sven so soon. My wounds have not healed...

[trublmaker]

sorry Jarome but today is not your day, no soup for you. GFG

[Itse]

I think there will be a bit of an emotional hangover from the last few great games, and Colorado has been hot lately. One goal Flames win after a tough game.

[Vinny01]

The top line is feeling it right now. With poor defense and goaltending I think the Flames will carve them up. 5-2 Calgary

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by MillerTime GFG

What a huge day today is between this game and all the OOT games.
Go Flames go.
Ho Hawks go.
Go Leafs go.
Go Bolts go.
Go Blues go.
Go Preds go.

That's not asking for too much I don't think.

While Nashville is on a slide, and the Leafs are laughable (and apparently the Hawks are Ho's?), those are exactly the teams I'd pick to help us out

[kyuss275]

This is going to be a tough game. Av's in must win mode, not that I think they get in. Flames played last night and with travel could be tired. It depends which Varlamov shows up tonight. When he is on he is hard to beat. Need Ramo to play like he did at the start of the last road trip.

[GettinIggyWithIt]

Nhl.com's stats page has a new trending section (most points over last ten days). No surprise here - 5 of the top 7 are Flames (....the other 2 are Oilers though). 4-2 Flames tonight!

[tvp2003]

Anything less than 6 goals for and I'll be disappointed.

Okay, 5 would also be acceptable. GFG!

Go Bernier! Ho Hawks!

[Street Pharmacist]

Yeah, Colorado is 7-3-0 in their last 10

[Money Baer]

Expecting a tough game tonight. I'll say 3-2 OT win.
Glad the boys get two days off after this game! They're gonna need the rest with the intense, emotionally driven games coming up!

[sharkov]

I have a bad feeling about this game

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

While Nashville is on a slide, and the Leafs are laughable (and apparently the Hawks are Ho's?), those are exactly the teams I'd pick to help us out

I'd edit my typo, but it actually turned out to represent my thoughts of the Hawks to a T. Ho Hawks Ho.

[troutman]

Mile High altitude no problem for Flames.

[Sylvanfan]

Too bad Colorado isn't giving Berra the start tonight. Tough back to back for the Flames. Hopefully Ramo is on his game tonight.

I think it's a slam dunk that the Canucks beat Toronto tonight. So a win tonight would be huge.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by GettinIggyWithIt

Nhl.com's stats page has a new trending section (most points over last ten days). No surprise here - 5 of the top 7 are Flames (....the other 2 are Oilers though). 4-2 Flames tonight!

Definitely not a surprise that Oilers are putting up garbage points during garbage games that they are still managing to lose. Garbage.