[GDT] Flames @ Hurricanes, battle of the fireman helmet teams, 5 p.m., SNW

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Don’t look now, but the Hurricanes are 4-0-1 in their last 5 games. Great, the Flames are meeting a hot team. But wait a second…let’s look at the teams they beat: Arizona, marginally better than Edmonton; Columbus, twice, a team that’s missing half their roster to injury; L.A., ok that was decent, but the Kings struggles away from the Staples center this year have been well documented. They recently managed an overtime loss to the Capitals in their last game, which means they were at least competitive in that one. Why the turnaround from being winless in their first 8 games? Simple, the coach had the courage to bench a $7 million athlete in Semin, not once, but twice in a row. He had just 2 assists in 8 games and was a team worst -7. Since the back-to-back benchings the team has played much better and with more conviction. Semin has since returned to the lineup and contributed a couple more assists in 3 games and is even in +/-. The return of Eric Staal has helped as well, as he has 7 points in his 8 games this year. After a slow start from Elias Lindholm, the man forever linked to Monahan in the draft in Flames fan’s eyes has 7 points in his last 5 games. But, goaltending is still a major concern for the ‘Canes. Neither Khudobin, nor Ward, have a save percentage above .900. The special teams for Carolina aren’t all that terrible. A PK at 80% and a PP just over 19%. But 5 on 5 the Canes are one of the worst teams in the league with a GF/GA ratio of 0.69, just ahead of Edmonton, which, as we all know, is no good.

The Flames managed to get 2 points on Saturday by scoring 6 against a team that, until that point, was one of the toughest teams in the league to score on. Sloppy goaltending, weird bounces, bad ice, and an afternoon game in Florida led to a 10 goal output by both teams, a little uncharacteristically so. Still, the Flames are 3-1 on a road trip that put them through some tough buildings without names like Backlund, Raymond, Stajan, and Colborne. This has led to the Flames having the league’s best road record at 7-3. Who’s doing it for the Flames? Look no further than their #1 defenseman and their #1 center. Mark Giordano has a 6 game point streak where he’s collected 11 points, putting him top 10 in scoring for the entire league and swirls of Norris talk amongst the media. Much more quietly, Sean Monahan has a 5 game point streak earning 7 points in that span and taking on the other team’s top players, doing well enough to shut them down. Gaudreau has been contributing as well, with 8 points in his last 5 games, and now has 16 takeaways which places him 5th in the entire league. Heck, even David Jones managed his first of the season in the last game and has had some strong play in the last 4 or 5. Setoguchi left the last game with an upper body injury and is day-to-day but still likely for tonight, but instead of using McGrattan in any capacity, the Flames have recalled Max Reinhart and put Michael Ferland on retroactive IR. This means Colborne and Raymond are likely a few days away from returning. Hiller will get the start tonight after Ramo struggled mightily on Saturday. It doesn’t mean Ramo won’t get more starts this year, but it looks like Hiller has earned the starting job with his steady play that has been stellar at times.


Flames
Glencross-Monahan-Jones
Gaudreau-Granlund-Hudler
Baertschi-Byron-Setoguchi
Bollig-Bouma-Jooris

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Smid-Engelland

Hiller


Hurricanes
Tlusty-Staal-Semin
Gerbe-Nash-Lindholm
Skinner-Rask-Boychuk
Malone-McClement-Dwyer

Sekera-Faulk
Liles-Harrison
Hainsey-Bellemore

Ward



Go Flames Go!

[devo22]

Your GDTs are really fantastic man! Appreciate the effort

[foshizzle11]

Those are great! Thank you for posting these.

I think this will be a tough one. A true test in my belief of the Flames. In the years we have struggled against some of the bottom teams even when we have been playing well.

They can't play like they did on Saturday and expect to win the game. I am going to predict a 4-2 win with an empty netter for the flames.

Brodie, Hudler, Gaudreau and Mony with the empty netter.

[Tyler]

Agreed.

If we blow out the Canes, it will be a sign that we've matured as a team and started to develop a bit of a killer instinct

[heep223]

Your write-ups are very well written, a pleasure to read. Thank you.

Quick note you have Seto listed in the lineup.

[Arya Stark]

Great write up keep up the good work!

Flames win 4-1. Gaudreau gets a pair.

[Wastedyouth]

Haha, the glitch .gif is hilarious.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by heep223

Your write-ups are very well written, a pleasure to read. Thank you.

Quick note you have Seto listed in the lineup.

Yup.

"We're going to wait until [Monday] to find out more but things look pretty positive," Hartley said.

Sounds like Setoguchi is likely to play unless he has a setback.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Do you think they give Gaudreau and Monahan a go again and have Glencross with Granlund/Hudler? Seemed like that one worked well last game. Maybe Gaudreau can find Jones another goal to pot.

[Table 5]

The Canes helmet is shaped a bit like a pope hat.

[DropIt]

Im going to guess this game goes just like the last meet up. Carolina is a bad, bad team

[AcGold]

Damn dude, you are great at pregame write-ups. Reminds me of the pregames Peter Maher used to give.

[keenan87]

Jeff Skinner is playing on the third line? Hasn't he been one of their best players for a few seasons now.

[Arya Stark]

Originally Posted by keenan87

Jeff Skinner is playing on the third line? Hasn't he been one of their best players for a few seasons now.

In one zone, yeah.

[sureLoss]

Wills on Sportsnet960 says Baertschi is feeling sick (possibly the flu) and is a game time decision

Also said Hartley is still positive Setoguchi will make it in tonight.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by keenan87

Jeff Skinner is playing on the third line? Hasn't he been one of their best players for a few seasons now.

He was on the 4th line not long ago. Part of the shakeup that involved Semin's benching.

[Gaskal]

Jooris seems to have an excellent knack for in close plays with the puck in tight quarters.

[sureLoss]

slight change to Canes lines

Michael Smith @MSmithCanes
#Canes forward lines:
Skinner-E. Staal-Semin
Gerbe-Nash-Lindholm
Terry-Rask-Tlusty/Malone
Boychuk-McClement-Dwyer

Michael Smith @MSmithCanes
#Canes defensive pairs:
Sekera-Faulk
Harrison-Gleason
Liles-Hainsey

[WhiteTiger]

Looking forward to this one. Go Flames Go!

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Wills on Sportsnet960 says Baertschi is feeling sick (possibly the flu) and is a game time decision

Also said Hartley is still positive Setoguchi will make it in tonight.

Would be pretty funny if Baertschi got a point while having the flu. That would certainly confuse everyone on here.