So... Now What? Preparing for the Stars

[Savvy27]

The amazing winning streak has come to an end with a disappointing loss to the Bruins and it is time to regroup. My question is what changes do you want to see or expect to see against Dallas?

Will Chad Johnson get the call again?
Will Curtis Lazar make his Calgary Flames debut? At whose expense?
Now that Stone is cleared for contact will he return on Friday or will Wideman stick in the line up any longer?

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

- Only if Elliott is still sick..........no chance we see Gillies though IMO
- Maybe - At Tatchuck's expense if he's not getting better, Bouma if coach feels he's earned it and was just waiting for the first loss.
- Maybe - I think they'll wait until they are 100% sure he's good to go, they aren't in a position to need to rush him back IMO

[Toonage]

The call ups will stick around today, go home tomorrow. Elliott will start and Stone will be back in. Wideman sits. Those are my thoughts.

[Mass_nerder]

If Elliott is feeling good enough to go, he will.
Maybe if Johnson was lights out he might get the second start, giving Elliott more time to recover, but I think the way Elliott has played, mixed with what Johnson showed last night, he's going to be more of a true back up from here on out.

[-TC-]

Nothing changes, you go through the normal routine to prepare and adjust the roster based on the usual parameters (wellness, opposing roster, etc..)

[J79]

Play Elliott, but only if he is 100%
Let Lazar play for whoever isn't 100% ... maybe rest Tkachuk for a game?
If Stone is good to go he should replace Wideman.

This is a must win game. No excuses.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by J79

Play Elliott, but only if he is 100%
Let Lazar play for whoever isn't 100% ... maybe rest Tkachuk for a game?
If Stone is good to go he should replace Wideman.

This is a must win game. No excuses.

No it's not, must not over use this term.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

No it's not, must not over use this term.

Agreed. Thankfully the Flames have put themselves in a position where this game tomorrow is not actually super critical. Obviously it would help if they won but it's certainly not "must win".

Feels weird. And good.

[Otto-matic]

Derek Wills‏Verified account @Fan960Wills 47m47 minutes ago
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Brian Elliott is on the ice for #Flames optional practice.

[Hockeyguy15]

I would call the games against LA must win. If you win those 3 then it's pretty much sealed up.

[dino7c]

get back on the horse, have a goalie capable of stopping a beach ball, hit the ####ing net

they will be fine

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

I would call the games against LA must win. If you win those 3 then it's pretty much sealed up.

What? pretty much? its already pretty much sealed they certainly don't need to take 3 from LA

[colbym72]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

I would call the games against LA must win. If you win those 3 then it's pretty much sealed up.

I honestly feel at this point you just gotta win 1 of the 3 against LA. That way they can only really gain 2 points on us from those games.

[Otto-matic]

The real test is how the Flames respond to a poor road performing Dallas team. They either come out firing and prepared for the game or it'll be another frustrating night for majority of our top guns.

If Stone is good to go, then you'll probably see Dennis back up in the pressbox. To be fair Wideman has played well in his return to the lineup so its a positive sign if baring any other injuries he can stop gap into the lineup.

I would actually go back to Johnson, we need both goalies to get going for the stretch and maybe having a confidence booster for him will do Chad wonders.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by dino7c

What? pretty much? its already pretty much sealed they certainly don't need to take 3 from LA

Ok fine, win those 3 and it is sealed up.

If you win those 3 then it doesn't matter what happens in any other games for the most part (just will matter for position). That's why I call those 3 the only 'must win' games.

[sa226]

I worry about those LA and ANA games. LA especially. Not because of the potential loss, but because of the bloodbath. LA likes to take their pound of flesh.

The Flames were pretty banged up after that clinching game against LA in 2015.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

Ok fine, win those 3 and it is sealed up.

If you win those 3 then it doesn't matter what happens in any other games for the most part (just will matter for position). That's why I call those 3 the only 'must win' games.

we have a different definition of must win

If lose all 3 of them and win 5 or 6 other games they are still almost assured to make it anyway

5 wins gives Calgary 92 points

LA would need to go 10-3 to get 93 points and pass them

[Lil Pedro]

Onto a new streak. Flames need to get back to what was making them successful during their win streak.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by J79

Play Elliott, but only if he is 100%
Let Lazar play for whoever isn't 100% ... maybe rest Tkachuk for a game?
If Stone is good to go he should replace Wideman.

This is a must win game. No excuses.

Sorry to add to the pile-on about "must win"; however if it was "must win" you play people no matter if they are 100% or not.

That being said, I agree with not playing Elliot or Tkachuk if they aren't 100%. As much as I don't like Johnson (even before last night), Friday's game might be his best chance to pull out a win. And if that means Elliot is ready to take us down the stretch, I'd call that a better use of his talent.

Dallas will be playing their 3rd game in 4 nights, on the road, against us. They also are pretty much out of the playoffs.

Also, the goal should be to make the playoffs. Unless we end up in 5th behind LA, we will play somebody in our division in the first round. I'd rather a healthy and ready Flames team make the playoffs, than to fight our way into 2nd place and have nothing left at that point.

[killer_carlson]

Insert Lazar for Tkachuk for 1 game.
If Lazar plays well then he gets a second game but Brower sits for 1 game.

I go back to Johnson in net.

I sit Stone for another game.

I don't want to see an important piece injured or having an injury linger because we didn't give them rest when the opportunity presented.