[GDT] Will we win at home? Calgary Flames vs. Arizona Coyotes 8 p.m Snet One

[Otto-matic]

Set-up notes

The Coyotes will likely welcome back a couple of key pieces in Calgary. C Martin Hanzal and G Mike Smith — that’s their top-line pivot and go-to goaltender — are both oh-so-close to returning from lower-body injuries. Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett characterized both as game-day decisions for Wednesday but it’s worth noting that C/LW Christian Dvorak and G Justin Peters have been assigned to AHL Tucson, clearing space on the active roster. That’s a strong hint Hanzal and Smith will both be activated from injured reserve and be in action at the Saddledome … Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan mixed up his defence duos ahead of Tuesday’s road date in Minnesota, pairing D Mark Giordano with D Dougie Hamilton and putting D TJ Brodie with D Dennis Wideman. “For me, it’s about balance,” Gulutzan explained. “Gio and Brodes can handle minutes but the reality is you can’t get the matchups every night that you want. We need balance from all the pairs.” Gulutzan, who reunited D Deryk Engelland and D Brett Kulak on the third tandem, is a fan of left/right-shot pairs. “I think it helps you spread the ice out,” he said. “It helps you play quicker and spreads the ice out in the offensive zone and through the neutral zone” … The Coyotes won four of five dates with the Flames last season, including victories in both trips to Calgary. Prior to the 2015-16 campaign, the Desert Dogs had suffered eight straight losses at the Saddledome … With six goals and a dozen points in 14 career meetings, Flames C Sean Monahan has been more productive against the Coyotes than any other outfit.

Injuries

Flames: LW Johnny Gaudreau exited early in Minnesota and his status is uncertain. LW Lance Bouma (shoulder) and RW Kris Versteeg (groin) are out. Coyotes: C Martin Hanzal (lower body) and G Mike Smith (lower body) are likely to return. C Dave Bolland (lower body) is out

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...rizona-coyotes

Kristen Odland
‏@Kristen_Odland
Flames lose Gaudreau (for who knows how long) in a 1-0 win in Minnesota, snapping four-game losing streak...

Seems like the team plays much better on the road lately, lets hope they can carry the good mojo from yesterday and get a W on home ice.

Both teams are struggling right now, I'm going to say 3-1 Flames.

Lets go Pickles!

[Toonage]

Hoping Gaudreau is in tonight. My guess is he either had his hand iced the first time or numbed somehow but that wore off and he was too sore to go the second time he left. Ice it today, tape it tonight and he should be good. But I'm no doctor. I just sell pills out of my car.

[CroFlames]

Gawd winning changes everything. I am actually excited to see if the Flames can put together two in a row here.

If they do, all is forgiven.

[GranteedEV]

Hope the fans bring some positive noise to the dome. The players have always fed off the home crowd energy and when it's not there they get nervous.

[Puppet Guy]

If the power-play isn't working, at least we've got anvils:

Spoiler!

Go Flames

[Monahan For Mayor]

If Johnny loses time to injury, that's on the refs. I'm pissed that they let him get slashed as much as they do. Something has to be done about it. NHL should be trying to extend the careers of stars not shorten them.

If I was Gulutzan I would have been losing it on those refs last night. If I was a player I would have two handed a guy. Enough is enough.

[sureLoss]

I believe Las Vegas' hockey ops & scouts are in town to watch this game.

Hide your Kulaks, Shinkaruks, and Jokipakkas.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

I believe Las Vegas' hockey ops & scouts are in town to watch this game.

Hide your Kulaks, Shinkaruks, and Jokipakkas.

Or just hide your Kulaks and showcase your Shinkaruks and Jokipakkas to hide your Kulaks.

[Toonage]

Derek Wills on Fan 960 right now when asked if Gaudreau would be in tonight, said he hopes so but doesn't feel good about Gaudreau's status. Also when asked at the beginning of the interview how Johnny was, he mentioned Gaudreau talking to him about the slashes but completely (purposely if I had to guess) didn't mention Johnny's physical condition. To me thats a red flag. Pure speculation my part, hope I'm wrong.

[GioforPM]

No morning skate today because they played last night?

[TheIronMaiden]

Monahan will never score again.

[JohnnyT]

Aaron ward reporting possible broken finger and surgery for Johnny FYI

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by JohnnyT

Aaron ward reporting possible broken finger and surgery for Johnny FYI

I'm not going to panic, but if that is the case it is bad news.
Hand injuries really take away from your puck handling and shooting.
It takes a player a while to get back to what they were.

[Toonage]

Have to assume Bennett moves up to the top line LW and Shinkaruk draws back in.

[JohnnyT]

On mobile so can't link tweet but Dreger echos Ward saying definitely has an injured finger and surgery may be part of the correction

[Otto-matic]

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 5m5 minutes ago
@NHL_AaronWard. He definitely injured his finger and as Wardo reports, surgery could be part of the correction.

[Hockey_Ninja]

I'm feeling optimistic after the last win. 2-1 Flames.

[locsofblu]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 5m5 minutes ago
@NHL_AaronWard. He definitely injured his finger and as Wardo reports, surgery could be part of the correction.

Awesome. NHL is a ####ing bush league.

[442scotty]

If Johnny is gone its gonna be for a while. Bring up mangiapane

[dissentowner]

Assuming Elliott will get the start.