[GDT] Flames @ Blackhawks, 6:30, SN1

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Flames: 6-11-1, 13 points, 6th in Pacific, 13th in West, 28th in NHL

Blackhawks: 9-7-1, 19 points, 5th in Central, 6th in West, 13th in NHL


Following a mass exodus of players and a Stanley Cup hangover, the Blackhawks have looked mediocre to start this year, and the stats bear that out. 16th in Goals For and 12th in goals against, 15th ranked PP, 14th ranked PK. They are a solid team, but not nearly as dominant as years past. However, Patrick Kane is having a superb season with 26 points in 17 games, tying him with Tyler Seguin for the NHL scoring lead. Artemi Panarin has impressed in his rookie campaign with 17 points, ranking 2nd on the Blackhawks behind Kane. They needed that injection of skilled youth after the loss of Brandon Saad in the off-season, and Marian Hossa clearly slowing down (just 5 points in 14 games). It doesn't help that they lost Duncan Keith for an extended period of time after surgery on his knee meniscus, but somehow miraculously he made an early return to the lineup last night...just in time for us to face him. This is a team that has enough talent to be in every game, and with Quenneville directing traffic they always play a strong game at both ends of the rink.

The Flames are coming off a win that should build confidence in a group of players who have struggled to figure it out this year. Despite giving up a 2 goal lead in the 3rd period, the Flames won in overtime yet again on the back of a strong game by Sean Monahan. Just about everyone played fairly well in the game against the Caps which was encouraging after a setback in Tampa Bay where they were the better team and deserved a better fate. The defensive game is getting better despite some clear lapses in coverage, and Ramo is really rounding into form. I've said before that Ramo goes on extended streaks both ways. When he loses his game you can't count on him for weeks at a time. When he's on his game, he can single-handedly win games for several weeks at a time. Here's hoping he's about to go on one of his hot streaks to get this team back in playoff contention.

I said during the last game that they were reminding me of the Flames of last year, just in the way the flow of the game goes and how they control the play. Confidence is still lacking, and there are parts of the game that are still sloppy, but they're rounding into form.......finally. The 'hawks will be a good test, as they are always a team that is well prepared. Being that they played a hard fought contest with the Blues just last night gives the Flames a slight advantage, but you know Quenneville won't accept fatigue as an excuse. Here's hoping the Flames are ready for puck drop and play a complete game tonight to end the trip at .500.

Lines are based on yesterday's practice/game.

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

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Hamilton
Engelland-Wideman

Ramo

Blackhawks
Dano-Toews-Hossa
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Shaw-Kruger-Teravainen
Mashinter-Kero-Garbutt

Keith-Hjalmarsson
Van Riemsdyk-Seabrook
Daley-Rozsival

Darling


Go Flames Go!!!!!!

[malcolmk14]

Blackhawks played last night and the Flames are hungry.

Flames win 5-1 and get to within 4 points of a playoff spot.

Gaudreau, Monahan, Frolik, Bennett, Hamilton

Kane

[Fleury’sOTGoalCelebration]

Let's go flames!

[Zoidberg]

going to the game tonight!!!

look out for the crusty leopold jersey.

GFG!!!

[Moneyhands23]

Pretty tough schedule ahead. Would be a great time to beat the Hawks!

[Blarg]

Slaughterfest? Slughterfest.
Unless Ramo becomes the second coming of hasek. Rebound control last game was awful and the Hawks will pounce on them.

[sureLoss]

Milestone alert:

Johnny Gaudreau's 100th NHL game.
Frolik one goal away from 100 NHL goals.

[FBI]

We'll see if Johnny can have a big game here. No points in last 3.

[cannon7]

I think beating the Caps is a real confidence booster. If they can keep that momentum going against the Hawks it could really be a big swing in the standings for the Flames from here on out.

[Dion]

Flames have been playing better of late. I expect Ramo and the duo of Monahan and Gaudreau to have great games.

4-2 for the Flames!

[sureLoss]

Hudler had these shirts made for the Flames:

[Puppet Guy]

Release the Kraken!

Spoiler!

Go Flames.

[Dion]

Calgary Flames
@NHLFlames Lance Bouma will be inducted into the @WHLGiants Ring Of Honour ~ cflam.es/1OKA8nr Congrats Boums!

[FBI]

How do you get the exact same puppet to have so many different expressions? Lol

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by FBI

How do you get the exact same puppet to have so many different expressions? Lol

He's versatile.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Blarg

Slaughterfest? Slughterfest.
Unless Ramo becomes the second coming of hasek. Rebound control last game was awful and the Hawks will pounce on them.

So I don't think you've seen the last 2 games. Ramo has controlled/limited rebounds against the Caps and Lightning. And the Caps are a better team than the Blackhawks, so I don't know what in the hell you're talking about..

[sureLoss]

No line up changes for the Flames:

Roger Millions @RogMillions
#Flames roster remains the same vs #Blackhawks as was the case vs #Capitals

[Heavy Jack]

Good. Let's build on this guys! We need a winstreak in a big way here and the next three games would be huge wins if we can get them.

[PaperBagger'14]

Pre game partly-hung-over panda

Spoiler!

[tvp2003]

Is it Ramo's turn to have a 40+ save OT win in Chicago?

Two years ago it was Berra, last year it was Hiller.

My prediction: 3-2 Flames in OT.