[GDT] Flames vs. Penguins, 8 pm, CBC, SN

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Flames: 4-9-1, 9 points, 7th in Pacific, 14th in West, 28th in NHL.

Penguins: 9-4-0, 18 points, 3rd in Metropolitan, 4th in East, 7th in NHL.


The Flames are coming off yet another overtime victory over the hapless Flyers. Perhaps we as fans have been spoiled by the exciting style of play the Flames have shown for the past two seasons, but seeing a boring, shut-down, defensive game that earns a win "delights not me", to steal from a more famous author than I. The fact remains, the Flames only gave up 1 goal against; the only time they've done that this year. When that happens following several games of giving up 4 or more goals, you have to take it as a step in the right direction. It may have been a shutout too, if not for yet another weak goal let in by Ramo. The good news on that front is that despite that one play, Ramo appeared calm and composed in net, which is usually how he looks when he's on his game. As ugly as that game was, it may be the precursor to a stretch of solid play and close victories for the Flames.

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?...id=DL|CGY|home

Bob Hartley

“It’s a good building block, especially on the defensive side,” coach Bob Hartley said. “I thought that our game as a unit of five in the three zones, on the defensive side of the puck, was much better. That’s what we need. That’s where it starts. No matter how many goals you score, if you give four or five a game you make it real tough on yourself. You don’t need to be a genius to figure that one out, but at the same time that’s where our game’s going to build. It was a good building block.”

Mark Giordano

“We didn’t give up much yesterday. It might have not of been the most exciting game to watch from up top in the stands but I thought both teams did a good job and I thought it was a smart game by us. We played the right way for the entire night and didn’t give up much. We have to take that as a positive.”

Well said Mark. That was still an ugly game, but it was a very complete effort from start to finish for the Flames. However, there's still a lot of room to improve, so here's hoping they continue that process tonight.

Their opponent is a Penguins team that has also struggled to score, especially Sydney Crosby with just 2 goals on the year. Unfortunately, Crosby has historically lit up the Flames scoring a goal per game against them and 12 points in 8 games. That means it's likely Crosby breaks out offensively tonight. Yet Crosby still ranks 3rd on the team in points, just behind Malkin and Kessel. In fact, the team ranks 25th in GF/G, right behind the Calgary Flames. Yet the Penguins have won 6 in a row. So how have the Penguins earned their good record? The answer is defense, and especially goaltending. The Penguins rank 1st overall, tied with the New York Rangers with just 23 GA. The Flames have given up 56 . Their penalty kill is ranked 2nd overall at 90.2%, just decimal points out of first place. M.A. Fleury has a 1.74 GAA and a .939 Sv%, and the backup Zatkoff is playing just as well with a 2.00 GAA and .951 Sv%. It's good that the Flames found their defensive game against Philly, but they are going to need to be strong at the other end of the rink tonight to avoid getting shut out.

Roster Notes: Lines for both teams are from last game. Expect updates throughout the day. Michael Ferland is skating again, but is not ready to return yet. Pascal Dupuis is out tonight for the Penguins after experiencing symptoms related to his history of blood clots and was sent to the hospital for testing. The tests came back negative, but Dupuis will not play tonight and has played just 6 games this season. Zatkoff played last night, so expect Fleury in net for the Penguins tonight on the back to back.

Flames
Gaudreau-Monahan-Bennett
Hudler-Backlund-Frolik
Colborne-Stajan-Jones
Bollig-Grant-Jooris

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Hamilton
Engelland-Wideman

Ramo

Penguins
Kunitz-Crosby-Hornqvist
Perron-Malkin-Kessel
Plotnikov-Bonino-Bennett
Sprong-Cullen-Fehr

Cole-Letang
Maatta-Scuderi
Dumoulin-Lovejoy

Fleury



Go Flames Go!!!!!!

[Fire in the disco]

HNIC and the Penguins played last night, Flames need to come out of with some jump and take 2 points tonight

[Iveman]

Go Flames Go

[wired]

If the Flames play for the whole 60 min, I will be happy...win or lose.

[Karl]

Here are the lines from yesterday's practice:

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames forwards at practice:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Frolik-Backlund-Jones
Bennett-Grant-Jooris
Raymond-Stajan-Colborne

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames pairings at practice:
Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Hamilton
Engelland-Wideman


Goaltenders:
Ramo (in starter's net)
Ortio


Penguins lines from yesterday's game:

Kunitz-Crosby-Hornqvist
Perron-Malkin-Kessel
Fehr-Bonino-Bennett
Sprong-Cullen-Plotnikov

Cole-Letang
Maatta-Scuderi
Dumoulin-Lovejoy

Expect Fleury to be the netminder tonight since Jeff Zatkoff was the goalie against the Oilers.

[I_H8_Crawford]

9-2 Pens

[Puppet Guy]

Slumping or not, Mini-Me is making his position clear:

Spoiler!

[The Professor]

Interested to see what Bennett does. A lone bright spot this season. Him and Johnny looked good together, but I feel like both want the puck on their stick. Better to stick Johnny with Monahan to try and get him going. I think It's possible now that he has some confidence, that Bennett will be the guy you use to get others going too. He needs a shooter on his line, which we kinda don't have... Maybe Jones?

Trying to not focus too much on playoffs, or high draft picks! Just enjoy the ride

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by Karl

Here are the lines from yesterday's practice:

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames forwards at practice:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Frolik-Backlund-Jones
Bennett-Grant-Jooris
Raymond-Stajan-Colborne

Those lines 2-4 are terrible.

[the2bears]

Spoiler tags for the large image please!

[Cali Panthers Fan]

S. Bennett vs. B. Bennett. Which Bennett will reign supreme?

[canflip_101]

s. benzo will reign supreme plus hes gonna rock sid the kid


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[Drak]

Benzo is a terrible nickname dude.

[Finger Cookin]

Flames and Pens can't score, Flames can't defend. Hope you're ready to go, Ramo.

I expect a sloppy, dull 2-1 game. It won't even be an OT winner. Hope I'm wrong and the game is at least entertaining, even if it's not high scoring.

Originally Posted by Drak

Benzo is a terrible nickname dude.

It seriously needs to be added to the swear filter here. Get it done, mods.

[Drak]

I hope playoffs Fleury comes out tonight.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

S. Bennett vs. B. Bennett. Which Bennett will reign supreme?

Haha yes! Takeshi Kaga from Iron Chef. Loved that show.

[FBI]

Only one poster is pushing 'Benzo' lol

[AC]

A guy in my section has been trying to get "Samurai" to catch on.

[Textcritic]

I don't understand what is so wrong with calling people by the names they were given.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I don't understand what is so wrong with calling people by the names they were given.

No problem "Textcritic", just go ahead and give your real name and we'll change your user title.