[GDT] Flames at Blues. 6:00, Sportsnet Flames, Fan 960

[Puppet Guy]

once more unto the breach, dear friends...

from the Calgary Herald (http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...-louis-blues):


How They Match Up

Forwards: Blues

More size, more experience, just as much skill.

Defence: Blues

These guys just don’t make many mistakes.

Goaltending: Flames

We’re buying, but they need some support.

Power Play: Blues

Jumped to 26.1 per cent with two tallies in Calgary.

Penalty Kill: Blues

Perfect while shorthanded in past five games.

Intangibles: Blues

Have been home resting since Saturday’s win.

Overall: Blues

Everything seems stacked against Flames.

Flames lines (courtesy of www.dailyfaceoff.com)

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

Giordano-Wideman
BRodie-Engelland
Jokipakka-D Hamilton

Elliott

Blues lines (courtesy of www.dailyfaceoff.com)

Fabri-Stastny-Steen
Perron-Schwartz-Tarasenko
Paajarvi-Berglund-Yakupov
Upshall-BRodziak-Reaves

Bouwmeester-Pietrangelo
Gunnarson-Shattenkirk
Edmunson-Parayko

Allen

...and as the Universal Monster thing worked last night, Count Puppula weaves his evil magic to mesmerize the opposition:



Go Flames

[Huntingwhale]

Win and were in a playoff spot? Yay for the Pacific division!

It's going to be tough. The Blues beat our ass every time we're in town and sometimes without mercy. It's going to be a very tough game.

Let's see if the Flames truly have turned a corner, or if last night was an anomaly and it's more of the same BS.

[Samiz]

It seems like the Blues decide their defensive pairings depending on the name length of their D-men. Interesting strategy

[hockey.modern]

The Flames will never score on the PP again.

[Benched]

worked well last game....


RALLY GEAR

[ClubFlames]

1-0 Flames.

[TBone290]

Powerplay goals are a lot like bananas, they tend to come in bunches

[CroFlames]

I'd like a 5-1 Flames victory for $200, Alex.

[Insufficient Funds]

I'd like GG to go right back to Elliott. He can rest when he's dead or whenever the Flames have a playoff spot locked in. Whichever comes first.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by Insufficient Funds

I'd like GG to go right back to Elliott. He can rest when he's dead or whenever the Flames have a playoff spot locked in. Whichever comes first.

No way that he's not going to let Elliott play against old team after last nights performance.

[I_H8_Crawford]

18-3 Blues

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Insufficient Funds

I'd like GG to go right back to Elliott. He can rest when he's dead or whenever the Flames have a playoff spot locked in. Whichever comes first.

I would never play a goalie in back to back nights, especially on the road. Playoff are the only obvious exception. The temptation is there because of the pressures of a horrible start, and in an effort to keep Elliot going.

As a head coach though, you have too look at the overall and season-long picture. Johnson has played well lately, and Elliot should rest up. Don't care what anyone says, and elite athlete such as Elliot need some rest after 65 minutes plus a shootout.

That's just me. I would go with Johnson tonight.

[Robo]

I hope this isn't one of those seasons we are awesome on the road but suck at home

[Insufficient Funds]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I would never play a goalie in back to back nights, especially on the road. Playoff are the only obvious exception. The temptation is there because of the pressures of a horrible start, and in an effort to keep Elliot going.

As a head coach though, you have too look at the overall and season-long picture. Johnson has played well lately, and Elliot should rest up. Don't care what anyone says, and elite athlete such as Elliot need some rest after 65 minutes plus a shootout.

That's just me. I would go with Johnson tonight.

I understand what you're saying, however an elite athlete like Elliott can play on back to back nights on the road. Kipper did this on numerous occasions as have many other goalies (I'm not comparing Elliott to Kipper just an example of other elite athletes doing it).

He can have 2 days of rest before their game on Friday and at this early stage of the season I doubt it will affect him.

I think he was really disappointed that he didn't get the start on Saturday and would be very pumped to play his old team in his old barn.

I say play him.

[Monahan For Mayor]

If Tkachuk doesn't slot in tonight it's time to send him down. 3 games from the pressbox in a row is enough to see that he won't be utilized enough. 13+ minutes a game on the NHL club, or send him down and let him dominate, and lead team Canada(Ooops) USA.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Insufficient Funds

I understand what you're saying, however an elite athlete like Elliott can play on back to back nights on the road. Kipper did this on numerous occasions as have many other goalies (I'm not comparing Elliott to Kipper just an example of other elite athletes doing it).

He can have 2 days of rest before their game on Friday and at this early stage of the season I doubt it will affect him.

I think he was really disappointed that he didn't get the start on Saturday and would be very pumped to play his old team in his old barn.

I say play him.

My coaching style would be to not play a guy on back to back nights unless I absolutely needed to. Elliot was seriously worked in the 3rd period and OT. I would rest him.

He is a pro and can get over hurt feelings of not playing his old club.

[Insufficient Funds]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

If Tkachuk doesn't slot in tonight it's time to send him down. 3 games from the pressbox in a row is enough to see that he won't be utilized enough. 13+ minutes a game on the NHL club, or send him down and let him dominate, and lead team Canada.

I think you men team USA...

[Insufficient Funds]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

My coaching style would be to not play a guy on back to back nights unless I absolutely needed to. Elliot was seriously worked in the 3rd period and OT. I would rest him.

He is a pro and can get over hurt feelings of not playing his old club.

I would contest that this is already a really pivotal point in the season with their first 6 games being such trash. Johnson has played pretty well so it's not like they're going to a terrible backup like Hiller. But for the reasons I mentioned I'd play Moose.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

If Tkachuk doesn't slot in tonight it's time to send him down. 3 games from the pressbox in a row is enough to see that he won't be utilized enough. 13+ minutes a game on the NHL club, or send him down and let him dominate, and lead team Canada.

Disagree ...

This seems like a well timed stay of execution on his 9 days in order to get the Flames core back on track and playing well within a system. The team was playing so poorly that they were wasting the games for Tkachuk as he's too young to plug into chaos.

If last night is an indication of turning things around, his 4 games remaining may be a better barometer of what he can do if he's merely adding to something that is working instead of helping sandbag against a flood like he was doing in his last two games.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by Insufficient Funds

I think you men team USA...

I sure do! Haha.