[GDT] Flames @ Penguins - 11:00 - SNet-W

[HalifaxDrunk]

I'm on the road travelling this morning so I cant do a full Preview.

Early game to end the road trip.

Go Flames.

[trublmaker]

lets go flames. A win will look good.

[dissentowner]

We are gonna get killed.

[btimbit]

11:00 am game, wow.

Ramo gets the start. No projected lines anywhere that I can see yet, coaches unsure of whether or not to make any changes to the lineup yesterday but we'll see I guess.

Going to be weird yet again drinking coffee rather than beer during a game.

[Poe969]

So maybe we make the playoffs in the east but I'd hate to have to play these guys on a regular basis

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Going to be weird yet again drinking coffee rather than beer during a game.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Originally Posted by btimbit

11:00 am game, wow.

Ramo gets the start. No projected lines anywhere that I can see yet, coaches unsure of whether or not to make any changes to the lineup yesterday but we'll see I guess.

Going to be weird yet again drinking coffee rather than beer during a game.

Staff Christmas party for me tonight, I may have to start early.

[btimbit]

Kris Russells 400th NHL game

"It is?" he smiled. "That's cool ... I knew I was getting close to 400 but I don't really look at that.

"The more games you play in this league, it means you're doing something right."

In his past 399 games, the 26-year-old has scored 27 goals and 11 points. He has played 35 games in a Flames jersey, being acquired in the off-season from the St. Louis Blues, and has four goals and 16 points to his name this year.

Ramo back in net and Smid comments on his confidence in the goaltending team

Head coach Bob Hartley has named Karri Ramo the starter for today's contest. The 27-year-old netminder is coming off a 35-save performance in the Flames 3-2 OT loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.

"I felt he was very strong," Hartley noted. "He gave us a chance to win. He was sharp. He was square. I feel that he deserves another start."

Reto Berra played in one game this week and was strong in his 31-save effort against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. Ladislav Smid made note of how confident he and the rest of the team are in their goaltending tandem.

"I was pleasantly surprised when I joined the Flames, how well both guys have playing," he told CalgaryFlames.com. "It's great to see. They push each other. They both have been rock solid."

Pens injuries, Stempys thoughts on tonight

Like the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, the Flames are facing a banged-up team in the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Listed in the Penguins sick bay in the Pittsburgh game notes: Beau Bennett (wrist/hand), Andrew Ebbett (broken ankle), Tanner Glass (broken hand), Kris Letang (upper body), Evgeni Malkin (lower body), Paul Martin (broken tibia), Jayson Megna (lower body), Brooks Orpik (concussion), and Rob Scurderi (broken ankle).

Those injuries haven't hampered their offensive prowess, however. Since Nov. 18, the Penguins have scored 59 goals in 17 games - second best in the NHL, trailing the Chicago Blackhawks. They are the top team in the Eastern Conference with 53 points on the year and their captain Sidney Crosby is riding a nine-game point streak.

Defending against such a high-octane offensive group will require a lot of focus from all five skaters on the ice and the forwards will have be very steady in the neutral and defensive zones.

"When we have a lot of success, I think we really do a good job of backchecking as a group of forwards and we really shrink the attacking area," Lee Stempniak said. "If we can come back, we'll really tighten the gap for their skilled players who want to cut back and really use the width of the ice.

"If we can generate back pressure, we'll really push their forwards into our defenceman and allow them to step [in] earlier and kill plays, near the blueline as opposed to in our end."

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=697062

Penguins projected lineup

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Zolnierczyk - Jokinen - Neal
Conner - Sutter - Vitale
Adams - Sill - Kobasew

Maata - Niskenin
Burtuzzo - Dumoulin
Samuelsson - Despres

Fluery

[Da_Chief]

One player can such a difference, if they didn't have Crosby that would be a non-playoff team. Of course they have injuries but still.

[btimbit]

Game starts in two and a half hours and I'm barely into my second cup of coffee. Damn eastern conference. Glad the league put an end to wanting to expand to Europe.

[btimbit]

[Hockey_Ninja]

Another Crosby hat trick coming up.

[TurnedTheCorner]

So early. Flames probably stand a chance with Pittsburgh so beat up.

[Robo]

First team to wake up wins... my guess is Calgary takes this one by 2 or 3 goals

[Puppet Guy]

we're due for a freak win. Go Flames.

[Igster]

Said it last time and I'll say it again this time...stupid time for a hockey game.

[Hatter]

Crosby would murderize us if we didn't have franchise player Kris Russell. Flames win 11-4.

[TurnedTheCorner]

What if Galiradi was a healthy scratch and no one cared?

[CalgaryFan1988]

The Penguins have 10 injuries including Malkin, Orpik, Martin, Bennett, Scuderi and Letang. Hopefully the Flames can make that count.

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg 15s
No Curtis Glencross on the ice in Pittsburgh for warmup, so maybe a late change coming. #Flames

edit: False Alarm

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg now
Nevermind. Our spotters in Pittsburgh have found Glencross. Nothing to see here.