[GDT] Flames @ Avalanche, 7:30 PM MST. Sportsnet 360, Fan 960

[Red]

Put Shore and Stewart on Janko's wings. Maybe they can generate something and give us a 3rd line that's worth a damn.

Stajan and Brouwer plus Hathaway/Lazar. Either one can sit without missing a beat.

[savardandjokinen]

Gaudreau Monahan Bennett
Tkachuk Backlund Frolik
Jankowski Shore Stewart
Lazar Stajan Brouwer

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by JurassicTunga12

Must win game?

Yup, it is getting g to where we can't afford to slip any more.

[kyuss275]

WHile the Flames have not had any serious injury problems, the depth of forwards for the flames is so bad, that a player like Ferland going out is almost catastrophic. THe only thing i can see doing is going against GG 4 line all the time and shorten the bench ( by quite a lot).

Put Bennett on top line, and run the first 2 lines ragged. Hope to hell you can mesh one more line together. There just is not enough quality forwards on this team to run 4 lines. Other than Janko and Hathaway ( who should be on 4th line) , the rest uf the call up forwards have not been good. Stewart is a 4th line/13 th forward. Stajan gets considerbale time because there is no one else to challenge him.

[Toonage]

There is also the option to double shift Gaudreau which GG has had no issues with lately.

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

WHile the Flames have not had any serious injury problems

I take your point. Of the Flames top 4 defence and most important forwards (JG, Monahan, Tkachuk, Backlund) they have only lost Hamonic for a short stint and Monahan for a game.

However, losing their number one goaltender and arguable MVP for weeks is definitely a serious injury. They also lost Frolik for extended time and he has not looked the same since coming back, they lost Jagr for the season due to injuries (I know that was maybe to be expected but still a piece of what was supposed to be a scoring line) and with Ferland now sidelined, they have had much of their secondary scoring go down with injury over the course of the season. Brouwer, too.

So, the Flames have been lucky that many of their top players have been healthy, but injuries have definitely cost them wins and contributed to their place in the standings, Smith especially.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by Toonage

There is also the option to double shift Gaudreau which GG has had no issues with lately.

Too bad that he can't be double-shifted on the same line...two of him would look good flanking Monahan

[joejoe3]

Johnny is now 5th in scoring.

McDink in 3rd.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by joejoe3

Johnny is now 5th in scoring.

McDink in 3rd.

Whatever...Mcdink is gonna put up points now in meaningless games.

Oilers will abandon what little structure they have to pad individual stats. Lucic might even get a goal!

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I didn't love Stewart on the 1st line last night, but I think he can have a significant role in the bottom 6 depending on chemistry. I did notice some of the problems he may have had in Minnesota of being behind the play a little in terms of mental anticipation and hockey sense, but he's definitely not slow in terms of footspeed. Not a burner either, but he can get to places quickly when he wants to.

I'm looking forward to seeing Shore tonight. When I watched him in L.A. I always noticed him playing a solid overall game with the ability to score some goals and create some offense. I'm hopeful that he can do to the 4th line what Jankowski did to the 3rd line.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Whatever...Mcdink is gonna put up points now in meaningless games.

Oilers will abandon what little structure they have to pad individual stats. Lucic might even get a goal!

Or the league will somehow give him many second assists.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Yup, it is getting g to where we can't afford to slip any more.

I said after the Vegas game that they needed to win 2 of every 3 remaining.

They won 2 of the first 3 game segment. So they are on track, but need to get right back on the horse tonight. Let's hope they can.

[dino7c]

Over the next 7 games they play one team that I consider to be a really good team. It's time for a run.

[Toonage]

The games that worry me most coming up are against the Rangers and the Oilers. Poor recent records against both.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I didn't love Stewart on the 1st line last night, but I think he can have a significant role in the bottom 6 depending on chemistry. I did notice some of the problems he may have had in Minnesota of being behind the play a little in terms of mental anticipation and hockey sense, but he's definitely not slow in terms of footspeed. Not a burner either, but he can get to places quickly when he wants to.

I'm looking forward to seeing Shore tonight. When I watched him in L.A. I always noticed him playing a solid overall game with the ability to score some goals and create some offense. I'm hopeful that he can do to the 4th line what Jankowski did to the 3rd line.

Agreed, it was also hard for him to know where to be not knowing their tendencies. I understand the rationale behind putting him on the top line but in reality it’s dumb. Our top line has lapses defensively at times and Stewart is known to be below average in his own end and was never used on the Wild’s PK unit. He’s much better suited on a checking line, as he can utilize more of his tools and play a simpler game, something he can not do on the top line. The 3rd line will be a good place to play him tonight.

I did see some encouraging signs in his play though, he was not slow but he needs to keep his feet moving and avoid puck watching.

On another note, no supplemental discipline for Pitlicks flying head butt into Brouwers face mask? Wonder what would happen if that happened to Crosby?

[Murph]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Over the next 7 games they play one team that I consider to be a really good team. It's time for a run.

I said it in last night’s Game Takes thread, the next 7 games make or break the season, as the schedule after that is very tough. Need at least 5 of the next 7.

[YourMother]

Shore will not be in the line-up, as he is sick.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by YourMother

Shore will not be in the line-up, as he is sick.

The dreaded Colorado flu.

[Toonage]

nm

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Stewart could very well get some chemistry going with Shore. I'd like to see Tkachuk with Gaudreau and Monahan and Brouwer up with Backlund and Frolik, moving Frolik to LW for the time being until Ferland is ready to go:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Tkachuk
Frolik - Backlund - Brouwer
Bennett - Jankowski - Hathaway
Stajan - Shore - Stewart

You think backlund would be able to contain McKinnon’s line and make up for all frolik and brouwers defensive liability all at once?