[GDT] Flames @ Sharks, 8:30 MDT. Sportsnet West, Fan 960

[Puppet Guy]

Holidays and hockey. What could be better? How about a Flames win? The boys go for one tonight in San Jose as they escape the cold for the warmth of California.

a little news to set the stage (www.calgarysun.com)

The Flames wrap up a five-day break between games on Thursday versus the Sharks, which is the start of a back-to-back California trip that also features a game on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. At Wednesday’s practice — Calgary’s first skate since Dec. 23 — Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan said that goalies Mike Smith and David Rittich would split the games … D Travis Hamonic skated on Wednesday and all signs are pointing to his return … This is the second of four meetings between the clubs this year. Calgary lost 3-2 at home to the Sharks on Dec. 14.

The Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks brass won’t have to leave the rink on Thursday as their American Hockey League teams clash at SAP Center prior to the evening game. Ahead of Wednesday’s action, the Stockton Heat (16-8-1-2) sit atop the Pacific Division while the San Jose Barracuda (13-11-0-2) are sitting sixth with 28 points.

Jaromir Jagr skated on Wednesday, tantalizing fans who are dying to see the 45-year-old living legend continue cementing his place in the NHL record books. Jagr has missed 14 games this season with a groin injury, limiting him to 19 contests in a Flames jersey. Officially, Jagr is still day-to-day. But he’s travelling with the team to California. The next time Jagr plays, he will equal Ron Francis for third on the NHL’s all-time games-played charts with 1,731 appearances.

Flames goaltending prospect Tyler Parsons was taking in Wednesday’s practice at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The 20-year-old product of Chesterfield, Mich., was injured in a game on Dec. 16 with Calgary’s ECHL affiliate, the Kansas City Mavericks. Parsons was drafted in the second round (54th overall) of the 2016 NHL entry draft and is currently playing his first season of professional hockey after three years with the London Knights. He’s 9-8-0 with a .907 save percentage and 3.08 goals against average.

Sharks' RW Barclay Goodrow was out for nearly three weeks with an upper body injury and looks close to returning to action after practising with the Sharks on Wednesday … Also skating on Wednesday was C Logan Couture who was injured on Dec. 15 but is likely not ready for game action just yet … The Sharks (19-11-4) entered Wednesday’s action in third place in the Pacific Division with 42 points and are riding a two-game win streak.

lineups (www.dailyfaceoff.com)

FLAMES

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Jankowski - Hathaway
Brouwer - Stajan - Lazar

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Hamonic
Kulak - Stone

Smith

SHARKS

Hansen - Thornton - Pavelski
Donskoi - Tierney - Meier
Karlsson - Hertl - Labanc
Sorensen - Ward - Boedker

Dillon - Burns
Vlasic - Braun
Ryan - DeMelo

Jones

Putting their own spin on a pagan yuletime tradition, Our Hero and his buddies escape the chill of the Polar Vortex with a good ol' bonfire:

Spoiler!

Go Flames

[The Fonz]

A regulation loss tonight would essentially have us 6 points (SJ leads ROW) back of 3rd in the division, with SJ having 2 games in hand as well.

Need a regulation win tonight for this team to have a reasonable chance of finishing higher than a Wildcard.

[FBI]

I'm still ticked off at the flames boring and inconsistent play.
A 3 game winning streak with a lot of goals would help fix that.

[Samonadreau]

I think a solid win tonight would calm some nerves around here including mine. 2-0 on this back to back and were right back in it.

0-2 and it's playing catch up again.

[Anduril]

Thanks as always for putting up a great GDT.

[442scotty]

2-0 for these games is a must to set the tone for the remainder of the season

[CaptainYooh]

A friend of mine saw the Flames at YYC yesterday waiting for the flight. He said they all looked like big children, glued to their phones and playing video games.

[I_H8_Crawford]

12-0 Sharks

But Flames out-chance them (10 goals deflect in off Flames players) and GG says this is one of the best games they have played all year.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

A friend of mine saw the Flames at YYC yesterday waiting for the flight. He said they all looked like big children, glued to their phones and playing video games.

And? What do you expect them to be doing sitting around waiting for their plane?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

A friend of mine saw the Flames at YYC yesterday waiting for the flight. He said they all looked like big children, glued to their phones and playing video games.

Sounds like any NHL team waiting in an airport.

[Oling_Roachinen]

On their phones!? A the airport?! My word.

[Dion]

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

A friend of mine saw the Flames at YYC yesterday waiting for the flight. He said they all looked like big children, glued to their phones and playing video games.

As long as it's Hearthstone!

[bubbsy]

Tough stretch coming for this team, with the Cali b2b and 3 in for 4 nights.

I'm getting sick of being so disappointed with this team. Really hoping they can muster 4 out of 6 points here, otherwise, i sense my interest will severely dwindle on this team that is tough to really get behind and excited for.

Just win, or fire the coaching already.

[Corral]

Cali trip shouldn't be a problem. Most folks here predicted a serious downturn for the sunny state teams this season

All kidding aside, I think the Flames will go on a bit of winning streak now.

[Redliner]

Really need a win tonight. (And tomorrow for that matter)

Realistically what will happen is the team will come in rusty and unfocused after the long break, get down by a few goals early, then mount a late push to come within a goal of tying it but ultimately lose in regulation.

I hate being the Debbie Downer but I have no confidence in Gulutzan's ability to get this team pointed in the right direction.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Yay for 830 start times!

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

A friend of mine saw the Flames at YYC yesterday waiting for the flight. He said they all looked like big children, glued to their phones and playing video games.

Gulutzan at fault again.

[blender]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

A friend of mine saw the Flames at YYC yesterday waiting for the flight. He said they all looked like big children, glued to their phones and playing video games.

Are we sure they weren't all logged on to CP?

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Gulutzan at fault again.

Nah, that's on the team mom.