This is the ultimate measuring-stick matchup for the Flames, an opportunity to beat the best. Despite Thursday’s surprise setback to the Arizona Coyotes, the Avalanche remain perched atop the NHL’s overall standings. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar & Co. reached the 40-win plateau in only 54 games, barely missing the league record for the fastest ascent to that particular mark. With the Flames also rolling, Saturday’s showdown in Colorado will be billed as a potential preview of the Western Conference final.
POINTS LEADERS
FLAMES
Johnny Gaudreau — 53 GP, 21 G, 47 A, 68 PTS, +40
Matthew Tkachuk — 53 GP, 27 G, 34 A, 61 PTS +34
Elias Lindholm — 53 GP, 25 G, 29 A, 54 PTS, +40
AVALANCHE
Nazem Kadri — 52 GP, 22 G, 46 A, 68 PTS, +22
Mikko Rantanen — 52 GP, 26 G, 39 A, 65 PTS, +34
Cale Makar — 51 GP, 18 G, 41 A, 59 PTS, +35
SPECIAL TEAMS
FLAMES: PP — 22.7% (10th); PK — 84.8% (4th)
AVALANCHE: PP — 22.5% (11th); PK — 78.0% (20th)
Calgary-raised rearguard Cale Makar is making a case for the Norris Trophy — or maybe even the Hart. The 23-year-old, already a bonafide superstar, leads all NHL defencemen in both goals (18) and points (59) and has collected an assist in each of his past 10 games.
BOTTOM LINE: Two of the league's best scorers, Nazem Kadri and Johnny Gaudreau, meet when Colorado and Calgary face off. Kadri is fifth in the NHL with 68 points and Gaudreau ranks sixth in the league with 68 points.
The Avalanche are 24-6-2 in conference matchups. Colorado averages 10.6 points per game to lead the Western Conference, recording 3.9 goals and 6.7 assists per game.
The Flames are 7-6-1 against opponents from the Pacific. Calgary averages 9.6 penalty minutes per game, the fourth-most in the Western Conference. Milan Lucic leads the team serving 59 total minutes.
Can't wait for this game! Big test not only due to going up against the team that is considered by many to be the best in the NHL but also a huge test to see if Sutter truly has fixed this teams confidence.
If they can win tonight that will prove the official death of the monkey on the back from the playoff series in '19. A win tonight will also legitimize our boys as one of the leagues biggest threats and not just a team that's on fire (pun shamelessly intended)
GO FLAMES GO!!
Last edited by foofighter15; 03-05-2022 at 09:32 AM.
It feels like both teams could have been looking past their last opponents waiting for tonight’s games as the worst 2 teams in the league got wins against them.
Huge measuring stick game for the Flames. I am pumped for this one
Colorado working the blue into their uniforms more is nice but man those pants and gloves stand out in an ugly way. Outside of the shiny lids Vegas and LA use that's the ugliest look in the NHL
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to FormerPresJamesTaylor For This Useful Post:
Location: Wondering when # became hashtag and not a number sign.
Exp:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Puppet Guy
Let's get back on the winning track:
NSFW
Seeing that clip reminds me of a story i heard earlier this week.
Did you know that the featured apartment where Paul Newman lived in the movie, was a real place...in Johnstown and was rented by an existing Johnstown Jets player?
His name?
Bruce Boudreau.
The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to transplant99 For This Useful Post:
First match up of the season between these two teams, both teams with goalies above .900 save percentage and why they're winning. Should be a good test for the Flames as this will be a team they're going to possibly come up against in the playoffs.
Go Flames!
Last edited by Macman; 03-05-2022 at 09:28 AM.
The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to Macman For This Useful Post:
Seeing that clip reminds me of a story i heard earlier this week.
Did you know that the featured apartment where Paul Newman lived in the movie, was a real place...in Johnstown and was rented by an existing Johnstown Jets player?
His name?
Bruce Boudreau.
Boudreau is one of the opposition players, too (I think at the beginning of the movie). The Hanson brothers' commentary on the DVD is full of cool tidbits.
__________________
"If Javex is your muse…then dive in buddy"
The 3 games in March vs the Avalanche could be considered a mini series in itself to predict how a playoff series between the 2 teams could go. It will be very important for the Flames to establish a physical tone early without taking penalties. If the Flames can intimidate and neutralize Makar, Kadri, etc without granting them power plays to counter attack I like their chances.
Go Flames!
The Following User Says Thank You to Freddy For This Useful Post:
Flames might win, might lose. I just hope they look competitive, look like they might win. Games against Avs haven't looked that way for a little while here. Would like to see decent passing and puck control rather than the dump and hope sort of game.
If the Flames get scrambly and back on their heels, it'll be lights out quick. Hopefully Sutter has a better game plan than Peters did, cuz Peters' didn't work, whatever the hell it was.
The Following User Says Thank You to TheSquatch For This Useful Post:
CALGARY FLAMES at COLORADO AVALANCHE 8pm TV: SN, CBC, CityTV - RADIO SN960
