[GDT] Flames @ Wild, 6 pm, SNW

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Not a goal, despite the way the picture looks.


Can you tell who I'm preoccupied by?

Flames: 40-27-7, 87 points, 4th in the Pacific, 9th in the West, 16th in NHL.

Wild: 42-25-7, 91 points, 4th in the Central, 5th in the West, 9th in NHL.


I’ve rarely seen anything turn around a team’s season more than Devan Dubnyk has by joining the Wild and becoming their starter. 32 straight starts for them. Not only that, he’s been largely impermeable to pucks for that entire stretch. Now listen, the Wild are a good team, and were a good team before their awful first half of the season, but no way are they 23-6-2 good with the addition of one, albeit an important one, player. However, their record has been so impressive with him that there are mumbles and whispers of Dubnyk being nominated for the Hart trophy. Sure, he’s only played half a season with them, but find me a forward or a defenseman in the league who has single-handedly done as much for his team as Dubnyk has. The only reason he would have a tough time winning the Hart is because of the season Carey Price is having. What was at one time a fun story about Dubnyk finding his game again after getting drummed out of Edmonton (E=NG), has now become the bane of many teams as the Wild have thrust themselves into a very solid playoff spot despite having an awful first half record.

The out-of-town scoreboard has been the Flames' particular bane of late, getting very little help, especially with the teams that matter most like L.A. Last night alone, wins by L.A. and Winnipeg dropped the Flames' playoff chances by 9%, while the loss by Vancouver only helped them by 1%. Every single game from here on is going to result in HUGE swings in playoff chances for each of Calgary, L.A., and Winnipeg. Thankfully, no OOT games tonight have any significant effect on the Flames' chances, so it's all up to what they manage to do for themselves. A win will produce a massive 14 point swing towards the playoffs, but a loss results in a devastating -12.6% which would put the Flames under 50%. You should know that 96 points will very likely not be enough this year. If the Flames were to get to 96 points, the best odds they have at playoffs are at roughly 62%. However, 98 points puts their chances at well over 90%. For the Flames to get to that mark they cannot afford more than 2 regulation losses the rest of the way, and realistically need a minimum of 4 wins. Of course, the Flames get to play the Kings and Jets the last 2 games of the year, so as long as they don't completely implode over the next 5 or 6 games, they should be able to control their fate.

So, how do the Flames beat one of the hottest teams in the league for over 2 months? We've had to face them twice with Dubnyk during this year, losing by 1 goal both times. The last game the Flames badly outplayed them, outshooting them 37 -29, and the Wild were lucky to walk away with the win in OT as Koivu bounced a shot off Gaudreau behind Hiller. That was a game where the Flames were down 2-0 within the first 10 minutes and found a way to get back into the game. Obviously, the Flames need to be better offensively, as most nights 2 goals won't cut it. Hiller was pretty good in both games, but Hartley is choosing to go with the hot goalie in Ramo, as he's really given the Flames a chance to win every night over the past couple of weeks. Parise is red hot, with 11 points in his last 11 games. Vanek has picked up his game of late after he got demoted to the 3rd line. He went pointless in his last game, breaking an 8 game point streak where he scored 10 points. This has also sparked Charlie Coyle who has 8 points in his last 10 games.

I'll be honest, I'm starting to get very concerned about this trip. The Flames are playing some very good teams and have started to look a little tight of late. The pressure may be getting to them a little, but this is also a team that finds a way when their backs are against the wall. I think if they look at their position in the standings today they'll find an extra gear and shock the Wild in their building. Hey, a guy can dream, right?

Roster Notes: Nothing changes for the Flames on the injury front and they did not practice yesterday, so no word on line changes. The Wild are missing Brodziak for tonight's game, and while Carter is possible, it's unlikely he'll play tonight. Prosser is still out with a lower body injury, Matt Cooke is still recovering from hernia surgery, and Zucker is out long term with a fractured clavicle. There were rumblings of Dubnyk not starting tonight in order to rest him for L.A., but I can't find anything solid on that front. Expect Dubnyk to be in net tonight.


Flames
Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Colborne-Granlund-Jooris
Raymond-Stajan-Bollig

Russell-Wideman
Brodie-Engelland
Schlemko-Diaz

Ramo

Wild
Parise-Granlund-Pomminville
Stewart-Koivu-Niederreiter
Vanek-Coyle-Fontaine
Bergenheim-Haula-Schroeder

Suter-Brodin
Spurgeon-Scandella
Dumba-Leopold

Dubnyk




Go Flames Go!!!

[dissentowner]

[CroFlames]

Anything can happen guys. Think positively, and if you believe in a higher power, pray

Playoffs are so close! I am playoff hockey STARVED!

[locsofblu]

We will make the playoffs and it starts with a win tonight. Go Flames Go.

Mark Messier.

[Igster]

Flames win tonight. I'm going to say 4-2. Monahan gets his 30th.

[Toonage]

If Dubnyk finally sits one out tonight (agreed, its unlikely) I have completely forgotten who the backup is in Minnesota. Backstrom? Kuemper? Roloson?

[Enoch Root]

The Flames are 4 points behind the Wild. A regulation win cuts that lead in half and knocks them off their perch a bit.

A win also puts us back in a playoff spot.

Time for the boys to turn it up a notch!

[smalltownref]

My cousin said it best the other day. For as little help the Flames have been getting on the OOT lately, this playoff run really is a reflection of the clubs motto this year. "Always Earned, Never Given". If the Flames want to make the playoffs they have to earn it, because it sure doesn't look like the Kings, Jets or Wild are going to go down without a fight.

A huge 2 points tonight would sure boost the team's mentality heading into the trip... Im sure they are even nervous a bit knowing that their season is on the line. A loss and I could see a slide happening, even though Hartley will do his best to keep them from feeling sorry for themselves.

I would laugh if the Wild bench Dubnyk to let him rest for the Kings game, and at this point that's exactly what I hope happens. Let the Wild's confidence get a little too high and then see them come crashing back to earth.

Go Flames Go!

[Jbo]

Heard on the radio that Dubnyk is getting the start.

[terminator]

Flames smoke the Wild........ its a f'n wild fire.

Hard hat for the whole team here baby.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Jbo

Heard on the radio that Dubnyk is getting the start.

of course, and they'll rest him against the Kings, making it doubly fun.

[sec304]

Huge two points for the Flames here!

3-2 Flames (Monahan, Bouwma, Stajan)

[Hemi-Cuda]

If the Flames can't get a win tonight, I don't think I see them getting back into a playoff spot. Every other team around them has gone into clutch mode, so even just a 2 game skid could be insurmountable

[skudr248]

Please ####ing win

[Gaudfather]

This is what I want to see when I open my Saturday Sun.

Dubnyk scorched - Flames win!

[jaikorven]

Originally Posted by skudr248

please ####ing win

Quoted for truth...

[MillerTime GFG]

Changed my Facebook profile picture to one at the dome during the '04 run. Good vibes activated.

[sixpacked]

Hey Parise,, Suck it!
Hey Dubynk, Suck it!
Hey Suter, Suck it!

Oh yeah, Flames win 3-1. Iginla with the EN to seal it!!

[sureLoss]

Shore draws back in. Bollig out.

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames projected lines vs. #Wild:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Raymond-Granlund-Shore
Colborne-Stajan-Jooris #CGYvsMIN

[ForeverFlameFan]

I really like the look of the Colborne - Stajan - Jooris line.