[GDT] Flames @ Sharks, 8:30 PM. Sportsnet 360, Fan 960

[Puppet Guy]

Well, it's back to the ice again. The Flames look to get back in the win column in the Shark Tank.

from www.calgaryherald.com

How They Match Up

Forwards: Sharks

Tough to bet against Couture, Pavelski and the Beards (Burns and Thornton).

Defence: Sharks

Deep on ‘D,’ as always.

Goaltending: Flames

Brian Elliott has been excellent as of late.

Power Play: Sharks

The Flames have four measly goals on 41 opportunities.

Penalty Kill: Sharks

Flames have allowed the second-most PP goals (13) in the league.

Intangibles: Flames

Aftera terrible start to their road trip, this group will be motivated.

Overall: Sharks

Flames still learning to play with the Big Boys.

Set-up Notes

Don’t look now but Calgary’s goals against average has ballooned to a generous 3.54. As of Wednesday, it was 26th in the NHL … Calgary’s power play has dipped again, dropping to 9.8 per cent efficiency and goal-less in three games. It’s the second-worst man advantage unit in the NHL … Their penalty kill is sinking, too, at 72.3 per cent (good enough for 28th in the league) … San Jose is averaging 32.4 shots per game, third-best in the NHL … They’re also allowing an average of 25.7 shots per game, second-lowest in the 30-team loop … The Sharks’ face-off numbers aren’t great, the second-worst in the league in fact at 46.3 per cent … Sharks C Logan Couture has taken the majority of them this year (122) and is 33.6 per cent … In comparison, Flames C Sean Monhana has taken 219 face-offs and is 50.2 per cent … The Flames’ American Hockey League Affiliate, the Stockton Heat, reassigned D Keegan Kanzig from the Adirondack Thunder (ECHL) back to Stockton … D Colby Robak was released from his tryout contract.

lineups (both from www.dailyfaceoff.com)

Flames

Gaudreau-Monahan-Chiasson
Versteeg-Bennett-Brouwer
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Bouma-Stajan-Ferland

Giordano-Wideman
Brodie-Engelland
Jokipakka-Hamilton

Elliott (unconfirmed)

Sharks

Boedker-Thornton-Pavelski
Donskoi-Couture-Ward
Marleau-Hertl-Karlsson
Haley-Tierney-Wingels

Martin-Burns
Vlasic-Braun
Dillon-Schlemko

Jones (unconfirmed)

...and as the Flames need to get their mojo going, Our Hero moves back into the dreaded Laundry Room of Evil, where he's got a new hobby on the go: shark-trapping:

Spoiler!

Go Flames

[Iveman]

Go flames go
Big win tonight.

[Poe969]

The season isn't out of reach yet but if the "best players" don't start playing like the best players then this season will be a wash.

[CroFlames]

Shore up the D. The GAA is way too high.

Goals for is OK.

[Murph]

It's time:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer

Please and thank you.

[zukes]

These 10:30PMET starts are killer for me. It will be a "work from home" day tomorrow.

Flames win a tight 3-2 games, Johnny gets the winner. I'll go with Backland and Giordano with the other two.

[bubbsy]

i am really curious how long until the coaches try to really change up the lines.....

i'd love to see them send some messages, while at the same time shaking things up in an effort to get Ws.

Gaudreau - Bennet - Brower
Tkatchuk - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Monahan - Versteeg
Bouma - Stajan - Chaisson

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Wideman
Jokipakka - Engelland
(to be honest, i'd be willing to try a variety of combos on the backend, including reuniting Gio/Brodie)....

Please just win.........

[Racki]

It's bothering me how discouraged I've become so soon this season. I feel no excitement or optimism at all going into this one. As long as Dennis Wideman is playing top 3 minutes and Brodie is forced to struggle on the left side I just don't see things getting much better.

[CroFlames]

I really don't think you need to mess with the forward lines that drastically. The Backlund line has been great, Stajan's has been consistent, and Bennett's has been good. Monahan and Johnny need to get it going, but they haven't been trainwrecks.

It's the D-pairings that are the biggest problem IMO. Bring back Gio-Brodie. It's time.

[Huntingwhale]

Flames always come out swinging when they play the Sharks and the games are always entertaining. Hopefully tonight is more of the same. I actually feel good about this game.

[Vinny01]

I does Tkachuk ply or does he sit? I could see them sitting him for a couple games before deciding what to do. I would rather they call up Shinkaruk, Jankowski, or Klimchuk before putting Freddie back in the lineup though

[Toonage]

Flames win the next 3. Yep, even in Anaheim.

Giordano-Brodie
Jokipakka-Hamilton
Wideman-Engelland
(should be Kulak in there for Wideman, but baby steps)

Edit: A win tonight puts them 3rd in the Pacific? Weird.

[Kipper_3434]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

i am really curious how long until the coaches try to really change up the lines.....

i'd love to see them send some messages, while at the same time shaking things up in an effort to get Ws.

Gaudreau - Bennet - Brower
Tkatchuk - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Monahan - Versteeg
Bouma - Stajan - Chaisson

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Wideman
Jokipakka - Engelland
(to be honest, i'd be willing to try a variety of combos on the backend, including reuniting Gio/Brodie)....

Please just win.........

Was going to post these exact forward lines. That d though...hope it gets a major overhaul over the next two seasons

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Flames win the next 3. Yep, even in Anaheim.

Giordano-Brodie
Jokipakka-Hamilton
Wideman-Engelland
(should be Kulak in there for Wideman, but baby steps)

Edit: A win tonight puts them 3rd in the Pacific? Weird.

This. Please make this happen GG. Brodie needs to be back to his comfortable side, Brodie just isn't himself. It is tough to watch.

Flames won't win many games if we continue with the D-pairings that we have been using. I hope there are some changes today. Can we possibly win in Anaheim this year? Elliott will need to stand on his head.

Anyway, tonight I think we will have a nail biter. 3-2 Sharks in OT.

[Wiggum_PI]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Shore up the D. The GAA is way too high.

Goals for is OK.

Goals for has been a problem the last 2 games though. You're not gonna beat the Sharks scoring only 1 goal.

[N-E-B]

8:30 games on weekdays are no good.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by zukes

These 10:30PMET starts are killer for me. It will be a "work from home" day tomorrow.

Flames win a tight 3-2 games, Johnny gets the winner. I'll go with Backland and Giordano with the other two.

Try 11:30PM Atlantic Time!

[442scotty]

I suspect the flames will lose all 4 games on this roadie and be done like dinner. More than happy to be wrong though

[Geeoff]

I find it so weird that either Dennis Wideman is a healthy scratch or he plays top pairing minutes. I think we need him on our power play but he shouldn't be playing 20+ minutes a game...

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

I find it so weird that either Dennis Wideman is a healthy scratch or he plays top pairing minutes. I think we need him on our power play but he shouldn't be playing 20+ minutes a game...

Everyone thinks that is bloody weird, trust me.

Except Gulutzan for some reason.