[GDT] Flames vs Sabres. 7:00 PM MST, Sportsnet West, Fan 960

[Puppet Guy]

Win streak over, consecutive point streak still alive. Tonight the Flames looks to stampede Buffalo.

some game news, courtesy of www.calgarysun.com

The hosts will be shooting to start a new streak and to keep another alive. The Flames seven-game win spree was snapped in Saturday’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets, but they’ve still collected at least a point in eight straight dates. Their record at the Saddledome remains a cause for concern — at 12-11-1 in their own barn, they have the most mediocre home mark of any squad sitting in a playoff spot in the NHL’s Western Conference.

It’s been another miserable season for the Sabres. They were smoked in their last contest — Saturday’s 7-1 drubbing from the Dallas Stars — and with only 31 points, are sharing the basement in the NHL’s overall standings with the Arizona Coyotes. The Sabres are averaging a league-low 2.24 goals per game. On a positive note, star centre Jack Eichel is riding a five-game point streak, with three goals and six helpers during that stretch.

The Sabres don’t have a lot of fond memories at the Saddledome. The boys from Buffalo have suffered seven consecutive losses in Calgary. Their last victory? Way back on Oct. 18, 2003. Mika Noronen pitched a 20-save shutout that night for the out-of-town team, while Ales Kotalik — Flames fans probably don’t want to be reminded of that name — scored the would-be winner just 93 seconds after the opening faceoff.

Monday marks the return of Calgary-raised netminder Chad Johnson, now in his second stint with the Sabres. Johnson lived out a childhood dream with his hometown team last winter, and there were chats about an extension, but he was ultimately included in the swap for Mike Smith and eventually signed to be backup in Buffalo. The 31-year-old has a scary stat-line this season — a 3.85 goals-against average, an .878 save percentage and a dreadful 1-8-3 record in a dozen decisions.

...and things are BLEAK in Buffalo (https://thehockeywriters.com/sabres-...y-frustration/)

There’s plenty of blame to go around at 1 Seymour Knox III Plaza in Buffalo. Answers are in short supply right now. Despite having a handful of talented players on the team, it’s been floundering in the basement of the league the whole year. These highly paid professional athletes are in a business in which winning matters and they are not. Fans are paying hard-earned money for tickets and entertainment/ They’re getting fleeced.

The home crowd shared their feelings on several occasions, booing the team off the ice. Many leave well before the midway point of the third period. The team’s effort is just not there.

At his press conference introducing him as head coach last year, Housley’s talk of playing an exciting, up-tempo offense, fueled by fast-skating defensemen and quick outlet passes, was fool’s gold for management and fans. Spouting his philosophy without the necessary pieces to implement it was a recipe destined for failure this year. One look at the lineup should’ve proved that.

Lineups (www.dailyfaceoff.com)

FLAMES

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

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Hamonic
Kulak - Stone

Smith

SABRES

Girgensons -Eichel - Okposo
Wilson- O’Reilly - Reinhart
Kane - Larsson - Pominville
Nolan - Rodrigues - Baptiste

Scandella - Ristolainen
McCabe -Falk
Gorges - Nelson

Lehner


...and never mind that gentlemanly sport of fencing - That Darn Puppet likes broadswords! Hockey's a battle, and at the final buzzer there can be only one:

Spoiler!

Go Flames

[Gaskal]

Watched last game's highlights vs Dallas - both goalies are in crap-mode. Like early 2015-16 crap.

There was a goal where the far side was gaping open when Lehner had carelessly slid over too much, and an unscreened point wrister that Chad just completely whiffed on with his glove like he was flapping a wing at it.

[442scotty]

Hopefully the poor showing by some of the Flames players last game was guys getting over the flu

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

Hopefully the poor showing by some of the Flames players last game was guys getting over the flu

Let's not go full Oilers

[ComixZone]

They're all big games at this stage, so I hope we put in a solid defensive effort, Smith's home stats improve, and a big ol' W is won at the end of the night.

[transplant99]

Awesome work Puppet Guy.....that picture.

[btimbit]

Start of another streak. Let's go

[GioforPM]

I heard Rob Ray this morning say that ROR is underperforming his contract. Buffalo is in rebuild mode (again) and ROR is entering the wrong side of his 20s. Let's say Treliving can't get Backlund signed for cheap enough. I wonder if you could get a deal for ROR with enough salary retained to make it work (they sure need goaltending prospects), and trade Backlund for something else in a different deal.

[transplant99]

So Mangiapane out and Hrvik in?

[Toonage]

They have to win this game, right? I mean this as close to a guaranteed win as it gets. The rust from Saturday should be gone, and there should be a little fire in them after dropping the additional point.

My only concerns are
1) Chad Johnson starts and channels Chad Johnson from November 2016
2) Evander Kane wants to impress his future coach (/s)

My advice to the Flames? Shoot glove high on Johnson.

[locsofblu]

Hopefully they put together a wa y better effort. Pretty much a must win game against an nferior opponent. With all tge western teams winning lateley one bad game and we can slide to 11th place.

[CrazyCaper]

The last time Buffalo won in the 'Dome was the same day I was married to my ex-wife. Since we've split up, Flames are undefeated. Coincidence?? I think not!!

[kukkudo]

Hopefully Stajan is out and replaced by Hrvik. Gotta win this one, cause I got no confidence in the Flames against the Oilers. Lose both and you fall in the standings pretty fast with how everything is so tight right now.

[locsofblu]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Watched last game's highlights vs Dallas - both goalies are in crap-mode. Like early 2015-16 crap.

There was a goal where the far side was gaping open when Lehner had carelessly slid over too much, and an unscreened point wrister that Chad just completely whiffed on with his glove like he was flapping a wing at it.

Don't worry. The flames will probably make them look like world beaters.

[Huntingwhale]

Looks like the Sabres have their own version of the Honda Centre curse. Haven't won at the Saddledome since 2003...

Hopefully this means the Flames don't take them lightly and can come out with a solid win.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Looks like the Sabres have their own version of the Honda Centre curse. Haven't won at the Saddledome since 2003...

Hopefully this means the Flames don't take them lightly and can come out with a solid win.

Something tells me they have many "Honda center curses" throughout the NHL.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Start of another streak. Let's go

It was fun while it lasted so lets do it again.

[EVERLAST]

Let's keep the point streak alive but get a new winning streak going.

If we can pop some quick goals the Sabres will fold early. Maybe we get to see why we don't want Kane on this team tonight as I keep shuddering at the thought that many still want him as a flame.

[Brick]

Just win!!

[belsarius]

They need to take the easy points and GG needs to make sure they are focused on this game and not looking ahead to the big LA game.