[GDT] Flames @ Blackhawks. 5:30 MT.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Not sure why no game day thread yet, but I'll give it a whirl. Halifax Drunk must be Halifax Hungover today.

Hartley's comments on Berra:

“His size, the way that he moves, I think that he has unbelievable quick legs,” Hartley said. “Again, it’s going to be a new challenge for him. He came from Switzerland to play in the National Hockey League, so we’ll get him some starts in the very near future.”

Go Flames Go!!!

[devo22]

Bouma is out today ... injured?

Roger Millions ‏@RogMillions
#Flames lines - cammalleri Colborne Galiardi-. Baertschi Monahan Hudler - Glencross Stajan D. Jones - Jackman backlund McGrattan - Bouma out

Roger Millions ‏@RogMillions
#Flames D+G butler brodie- Russell Wideman-.Smith O Brien - Berra.

And, of course:

Darren Haynes ‏@DarrenHaynes_CP
For his next trick, #Flames Mikael Backlund will create offence with Jackman (2 g in last 146 games) and McGrattan (6 g in 244 career games)


sigh.

[Roof-Daddy]

Yogi gets dropped right into the deep end eh?

Hope he's got his water wings.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by devo22

Bouma is out today ... injured?

Roger Millions ‏@RogMillions
#Flames lines - cammalleri Colborne Galiardi-. Baertschi Monahan Hudler - Glencross Stajan D. Jones - Jackman backlund McGrattan - Bouma out

Roger Millions ‏@RogMillions
#Flames D+G butler brodie- Russell Wideman-.Smith O Brien - Berra.

And, of course:

Darren Haynes ‏@DarrenHaynes_CP
For his next trick, #Flames Mikael Backlund will create offence with Jackman (2 g in last 146 games) and McGrattan (6 g in 244 career games)


sigh.

Matt Stajan can't be traded soon enough IMO.

[lifetimefan]

Tired or not, the Hawks will probably destroy this defense and Berra.

Sad to see Backlund is in the shathouse again. 4th line minutes with pluggers on the wings.

[Fire in the disco]

Is Berra in for sure?
Also, what in the hell in Jackman-Backlund-McGratton even supposed to do as a line?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Fire in the disco

Is Berra in for sure?

yes. Well, Odland and Millions say so

EDIT: on the other hand, let's wait for official confirmation ... earlier, Darren Hayes also tweeted that Chad Billins will be in the lineup, but Millions says no ... no "projected lines" on the Flames website yet

[Poe969]

This. Is. Going. To. Hurt.

[devo22]

alright, now Steinberg confirms that Berra is in. Interesting to see how he does, but I have a feeling that this might be an ugly game.

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg
Reto Berra gets his first NHL start tonight in Chicago. 5:30 pm puck drop. #Flames

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Matt Stajan can't be traded soon enough IMO.

It's an interesting situation for sure.

I guess the upside is that he's getting forced down the roster because the Flames suddenly have found returns in two large bodied young centers, didn't see that coming this season.

Stajan is a vet, playing with vets and playing well so I can see him getting ice as well.

Then you have Backlund that has played solid hockey this season but is getting vanilla'd out of ice time by guys that are showing more.

All four guys playing well in my mind.

Such an odd and unpredicatable season thus far, nothing like I expected.

[Vedder]

I like having Stajan around. He seems like a good guy in the room and he is a reliable vet who can take ice when the younger guys are struggling. I think there is value in that.

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by Fire in the disco

Is Berra in for sure?
Also, what in the hell in Jackman-Backlund-McGratton even supposed to do as a line?

Flames confirmed it on twitter as well so yes.

[indes]

If they're not going to play Backlund in the top 3 C positions they should give him a shot on the wing. Cammalerri - Colborne - Backlund sounds like a pretty decent line.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by devo22

alright, now Steinberg confirms that Berra is in. Interesting to see how he does, but I have a feeling that this might be an ugly game.

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg
Reto Berra gets his first NHL start tonight in Chicago. 5:30 pm puck drop. #Flames

Could be ugly with either goalie. I wouldn't say that Rämö has found any comfort level in the NHL yet either. Maybe Hartley is hoping for a miracle.

Chicago is perfectly capable of not showing up against teams that they see being below their level. Might not be a shooting gallery from the start. Of course they may also totally overwhelm the Flames defense right away.

If the team works hard and Berra makes himself big in goal without over-playing, it might be an okay game.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by indes

If they're not going to play Backlund in the top 3 C positions they should give him a shot on the wing. Cammalerri - Colborne - Backlund sounds like a pretty decent line.

Agreed. Give Galiardi a game with the two knuckleheads.

[Huntingwhale]

I'm actually excited about the Flames playing the Hawks today. For most of these games in the past, the Flames would roll over and die. But I know this team will at least go down swinging. Hoping its a chippy affair for a 4-2 win.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by lifetimefan

Tired or not, the Hawks will probably destroy this defense and Berra.

Sad to see Backlund is in the shathouse again. 4th line minutes with pluggers on the wings.

Where is else would he be? Colborne has been playing well and deserves top 9. This site would crash if they put Monahan down on the 4th line. Backlund is not playing as well as Stajan. Don't see any other spot other than 4th line until he gets better.

Actually the more i look at it if he can't beat out a rookie, a guy who was traded and being converted into 3rd line center, and a vet center who Feaster called a 3rd line center this summer, for more playing time, then that's pretty bad on Backlund.

[indes]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Where is else would he be? Colborne has been playing well and deserves top 9. This site would crash if they put Monahan down on the 4th line. Backlund is not playing as well as Stajan. Don't see any other spot other than 4th line until he gets better.

Actually the more i look at it if he can't beat out a rookie, a guy who was traded and being converted into 3rd line center, and a vet center who Feaster called a 3rd line center this summer, for more playing time, then that's pretty bad on Backlund.

I know its being debated in other threads but in my opinion Backlund has been mismanaged for years.
Everyone is putting the cart before the horse and expecting Backlund to out out results right away.

Then on the same coin watch Colborne do nothing in the way of offense with his increased ice time.
Backlund and Baertschi were awesome together last year despite not potting more goals and I think Backlund
has the IQ to put it together but over the past few years he only gets a few games at a time in a scoring role then sent back down to grind it out.

[Samiz]

Don't have much luck in Chicago. I don't remember winning in their building for years. Hopefully Berra will have a decent debut and maybe Backlund can use some wizardry to escape the doghouse from the 4th line

[Igster]

Originally Posted by indes

Then on the same coin watch Colborne do nothing in the way of offense with his increased ice time

I agree Backlund has been mismanaged, but I don't agree with this comment. Colborne has been very good in the faceoff circle and has been very good at recovering the puck down low and cycling and creating chances. He's not scoring, but he's playing very well and actually using his size.