[GDT] Flames vs. Blackhawks, 7 p.m., SNF

[Split98]

A birthday win over the Hawks will be perfect!

[MissTeeks]

Chris Kuc‏@ChrisKuc3m3 minutes ago

Flames' Brandon Bollig took several ex-Blackhawks teammates out last night: "I was trying to sabotage them a bit, but it didn’t work."

[CsInMyBlood]

That last Hawks game was certainly the highlight of Hillers career as a Calgary Flame, hopefully his teammates don't hang him out to dry like that last one. Backlunds wrister with 24 seconds left in OT was one of the best moments for me this season.

That said I also really enjoyed seeing the frustration shown by Kane, Sharp and Toews throughout that game and wouldn't mind seeing that again. At all.

F the Hawks.

[jg13]

I actually think we will win this game.

3-2 Flames in OT

[Enoch Root]

Assuming Setoguchi is in, the age and cap hit of the roster are:

26.9 years, $40.7M

With Reinhart, it's:

26.7 years, $40.6M

Either way, if that line-up beats the Hawks, it would be pretty impressive.

(if Russell can play, the cap is $42.5M)

[Gaudfather]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Calgary Flames @NHLFlames
Hartley calls @johngaudreau03 & @GranlundMa Jiri Hudler's "little brothers" - he praised Hudler's leadership w/ the two.

Aside from his talent, I really like the chemistry that Hudler brings to the team. He is a real jokester and keeps the atmosphere light as well.

Like Gio, he is one of the vets that should be on our no trade list.

[MissTeeks]

Chris Kuc‏@ChrisKuc11m11 minutes ago

Andrew Shaw is not on the ice during the #Blackhawks' morning skate in Calgary

[stone hands]

I have a feeling one team is going to dominate tonight

Either the flames really have improved and have a statement game, or the Hawks get their revenge

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Darren Haynes ‏@DarrenWHaynes 6m6 minutes ago
NHL: How long since last three-game losing streak:
1. CGY, 52 gm (back to Jan 22/14)
2. TB, 37 gm
3. NSH, 30 gm
4. PIT, 26 gm
5. CHI, 24 gm

I know we had a strong 2nd half last season, but for a team that ended up in 27th and picked 4th overall, that is an incredible stat.

[Rick M.]

Has there been any update on Russell's injury?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Has there been any update on Russell's injury?

other than it is lower body and he will not play tonight, no

[MissTeeks]

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=740128

Ferland Returns:

After missing eight games with a concussion, Michael Ferland is ready to get back into the lineup.
"I've been working hard here the last couple of weeks and I'm just really excited and anxious to get back out there," he smiled.
The 22-year-old suffered a concussion in his NHL debut, getting hit by Nashville's Anton Volchenkov on Oct. 31. Volchenkov was suspended four games for the illegal check to the head.
"It sucked, my first game and getting hurt. I'm a strong believer in everything happens for a reason and I'm just happy I'm still here right now and getting the opportunity I am tonight.
"I'm really anxious to get out there."

"Just bring your game. Obviously it was not the greatest setup for your first NHL game to leave with a concussion, but that's the game. He's trained hard, we worked a lot on his skating and his pace. He understands that part of the game.
"We're playing a high-tempo game and we want out guys to be skating. We want to be imposing. We want to play our rhythm -- we never want to respond to the other team, we want to play our game."

Ferland is expected to skate on a line with Paul Byron and Josh Jooris this evening, something he is looking forward to.
"Go out there and use my body. Be physical, move my feet, move pucks quick. I'm playing with Jooris and Byron tonight, they're both fast skaters so I've got to try to keep up with them. Make room for them."

Russell, Jones Out

"They're improving but with their injuries we're not going to take any chances," Hartley explained. "We're going to do what is best for them. They are two big parts of our lineup. We'd love to have them in but at the same time it opens doors for other guys added responsibilities and that's our approach. We'll take care of them.
"They're close but they're not good enough."

Different Game, Different Team

Mark Giordano feels his team has made big strides since that point and will bring an entirely different game tonight.
"At the start of the year, I think our goalies won a bunch of games for us early on. We weren't very good and we know that. But we've turned it around. Our team game came around and it seems like on different nights, different guys are stepping up.
"Our team game as a whole has been a lot better and we're getting to where we want to be. It's still early but we're definitely in a good spot right now."
Like Tuesday's game against the Anaheim Ducks, the Flames view this match-up as a measuring stick to see where they are at in the Western Conference.
"Chicago's, in our minds, one of the best teams in the League. It's another great test for us," Giordano stated.
"We have to have a lot better effort than [the last game against Chicago.] But we feel our game has come a long way since then too."

Quotable

"That's my goal for tonight: go out there and get a few licks on some guys, try to get into it early." - Michael Ferland on getting back into game action this evening

[Gaudfather]

Apparently Russell will not play tonite. Smid slides up and Diaz slots in.

Also showing Ferland with Jooris and Byron on the 3rd line.

Reinhart between Bollig and Baertschi on the 4th line.

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?...id=DL|CGY|home

[FlameZilla]

Any word on where Ferland slots into the lineup? Edit: with Jooris & Byron apparently.

His size & physicality could really make a difference tonight...

[MissTeeks]

No Shaw for the Hawks tonight:

Chris Kuc‏@ChrisKuc1m1 minute ago

Andrew Shaw will not play for #Blackhawks tonight due to an upper-body injury.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I'm pretty sure Ferland - Granlund - Jooris was the most productive line in the AHL for a good period of time last season. I would love to see them together at some point.

[RyZ]

The lines don't even matter. Chances are that Baertschi gets benched after his first mistake and the lines get shaken up throughout the rest of the game.

[_Q_]

Yikes, Bouma as our first line RW is rough, but

1) he's a better player than Setoguchi. This should be an upgrade over the ducks game.
2) the rest of the lineup looks alright to me. I'm assuming we'll be rolling lines tonight.

[UKflames]

Really excited for tonight as this is going to be my first ever Flames game at the dome in town for work so have chance to go.

I will be the crazy Limey jumping up and down with excitement.

[Aeneas]

Really good game day skate I thought this morning, a little more intensity then before.

Two actual bodychecks during drills, I liked that. First Wideman took Ferland out into the end boards. Not crushing blow, but harder than anything I have seen at morning skate this last week.

Later Reinhart tried to cut in front of the net during 3v2 part of the battle drill; he was met and dropped by Engelland.

First on the ice today was Glencross. Working on one timers, looked like he did have pain. Maybe the rib thing.

Hartley spent some one on one time with Hudler, and Granlund.

Gelinas spent a long time with Ferland. That led us to believe that he was in for sure.

There was not, as has been the case, any forwards wearing the green (you are sitting tonight) jerseys. At the end of practice though, Setoguchi and McGrattan stayed on for extra work, so we assumed they were drawing the short straws.

Both goalies looked unbeatable early in practice, so many players hitting posts also. I see that as a sign that the shooters believe they must be perfect to beat our guys in net! Byron finally broke the goose egg.

Best goals of the skate ( for me ) went to Bollig, Hudler, Bollig again and Reinhart. For a tough guy Bollig has a good shot, in my opinion.

Ferland looked good coming from down low to the front of the net for one timers.

Wideman, Hudler Engelland and Smid as usual most talkative out there.

Big crowd (relative) to watch today. Something to do with Chicago I suppose.

I will preface this by saying it likely has to do with his radio job, but Eric Francis is always the last media type to show up for the skate. Usually he arrives just as it is ending and most of the media has already gone downstairs. Again, I assume it has to do with his other job. Just thought it would be funny if he wrote about a Flames player in the morning skate; funny because he doesn't see it. He was nice enough to find a young kid to give a puck to.

Coach Hartley again was very kind to a couple young kids watching. Took time to talk to them.

Big thing we noticed this time out, was communication. Constant reinforcement on that. Also coaches stressing precision and being sharp.

Funny moment, just at the start of the PP drills. Gelinas was about to shoot the puck in, then stressed again, be sharp, SHARP! Then he fanned on the shoot in!

I watched the faceoffs completely today. Whata battle between Jooris, Monahan, Granlund and Reinhart. At first it was all Jooris, then Monahan took over for a while winning many in a row. Just as I was feeling sorry for Granlund he went on a tear. Just at the end reinhart won a few. I did not keep score but would guess that Jooris barely edged Monahan for first, Granlund not far behind in third.

Lastly, once again Giordano and Gaudreau faced off to start the battle/game simulation drill. If you remember last game Gaudreau beat Giordano, then scored. I was keen to see what happened today. It was Giordano this time, very eagerly taking the puck away. "Not today Johnny"