[GDT] Flames @ Blackhawks, 6 pm, CITY

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Flames: 17-12-2, 36 points, 4th in Pacific, 7th in West, 13th in league.

Blackhawks: 20-9-1, 41 points, 2nd in Central, 3rd in West, 4th in league.


A 4 game losing streak. We knew this team would have these this year, but did anyone imagine that it would feel so unexpected? Is it strange to think that the team may feel so disappointed in their recent lack of success? You have to keep in mind how this team was slated to be in the bottom 3 this year, but have shown so much more than that to this point in the season. The question really becomes this: Was it a hot streak that went all the way back to January of last year, or is this just a blip in the data that has shown this team to be a legitimate playoff contender?

Well the flames are still in a playoff spot right now despite a 4 game losing streak. They also have a double digit positive goal differential (+11) the hallmark of a playoff team. Despite the recent offensive struggles the Flames own the 8th best offense at 2.94 GF/G. The goals against are solidly in 15th at 2.64 GA/G. The powerplay is still over 20% (20.8%) and is 11th in the league. The penally kill, a sore spot for the first 20 games that was sitting at the bottom of the league, has been improving and is now nearly at 80% (78.2%) which is the mark at which it can be considered a reliably solid kill. The only problem has been the diminishing 5 on 5 ratio, which is now down to just 1.03 and 16th in the league. Oh, and people can talk all they want about the Corsi stats that have indicated the Flames should be sucking more, but let's look at the simple raw stat of shots on goal against per game. The Flames are 10th in the league allowing 28.5 SA/G. There is a strong correlation with GA as almost all of those top 10 teams are also top 10 teams in GA/G. The larger concern seems to be the low SF/G for the Flames, as they still sit in the basement in that category at just 27.7 (tied with Montreal for 27th). This is part of the reason why the offense has diminished a little, but there's no doubt the team has struggled to bury chances and they've done plenty to create enough offense in a game to win. All teams go through these stretches where nothing goes their way, but it's time to bear down and work their way through it. The few defensive miscues they've made have ended up in goals against. The puck just doesn't want to land on a friendly stick to end up in a goal for. The winning habits are still there as evidenced over the last few games where we outplayed and outshot the opposition and still ended up with the loss. One of the leaders needs to step up and have a big game and we need our goaltending to steal us a game.

Cue a meeting with the Chicago Blackhawks, where almost every win we've had against them over the past couple years (of which there have been several) have largely been due to a brilliant goaltending performance. We've had our share of good fortune against one of the elites of the league, but we can only hope that we won't need good fortune to beat them. They lost their first in 9 games last night to the New York Islanders and were badly outshot in the process (41-25), but Scott Darling was brilliant and nearly let them steal points in a game they were not very sharp. In fact their recent streak was due in part to his strong play where he averaged a .939 Sv% over his last 4 games. Thankfully the Flames will be facing Raanta today and not Darling or the injured Crawford. Darling is just another of the 'Hawks goaltenders who look exceptional so far this year. Looking at the 3 goaltenders, it's eerie how similar their stats are. All 3 are hovering around the 2.00 GAA mark and all 3 have a Sv% of .930 or better. That's some crazy reliance on goaltending to get the job done. Are they just doing a great job of limiting the great scoring chances or are all 3 of their goaltenders bailing them out regularly? It's probably due primarily to their elite penalty kill, 1st in the league at just over 90%. One thing is for sure, the 'Hawks do a great job of creating offense, leading the league in SF/G with 35.1 and scoring 2.97 GF/G. Their shooting percentages have finally started to normalize, despite a stretch earlier this year where they were struggling to score 2 goals a game. In fact, last night was the first time since their last loss to Vancouver that they had not scored at least 3 goals in a game.

Nobody is particularly hot on either team, but it should be noted that Giordano had yet another 6 game point streak snapped against Pittsburgh. Both teams are relatively healthy with their top players except for Corey Crawford for Chicago and Mikael Backlund for Calgary sitting out.

There are no reports on the lineup tonight, but Corey Potter was recalled for the injured Ladislav Smid. Lineups are speculation at this point. Raanta is the confirmed starter for Chicago.

Flames
Colborne-Monahan-Raymond
Gaudreau-Granlund-Hudler
Glencross-Jooris-Jones
Bollig-Stajan-Byron

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Diaz-Engelland

Ramo


Blackhawks
Saad-Toews-Hossa
Versteeg-Richards-Kane
Bickell-Shaw-Sharp
Carcillo-Kruger-Smith

Keith-Seabrook
Hjalmarsson-Oduya
Dahlbeck-Rozsival

Raanta



Go Flames Go!!!

[Tsawwassen]

The game is also on the NHL Network in the USA.

Commentators for this game are Bob Cole, Garry Galley, and Arash Madani.
https://canadiansportsfan.wordpress.com/2014/12/09/nhl-canadian-tv-schedule-december-10-16/

[Tsawwassen]

Centre Ice channels for:
Sunday, December 14
Calgary at Chicago, 1700h Mountain
Flames feed in red

Game is on City in Canada, therefore it is not on Centre Ice.

USA
Indemand - On NHL Network
Directv - 215 SD and HD
Dish - 157 SD and HD

Sirius Radio-- Siri Internet 926
XM Radio-- XM Internet 926
SXM Radio-- SXM Internet 926

[FireItUp]

I wanna see Monahan or Jooris put on Johnny and Jiri's line. Come on Hartley, you can do it!.

[thefoss1957]

A lot of 'Hawk fans have been enamored with Darling, IMO, Raanta is light years better at tracking the puck and controlling rebounds...Darling is simply huge, and the league (up to now) has lacked a book on him...the Isles started to solve him last night.

Through the recent streak...the 'Hawk offense has been inconsistent. Two lines have been very good, and two, not so good. Versteeg/Richards/Kane and Smith/Kruger/Caricillo have carried play, and only Saad from the top line has been dangerous...Hossa and Sharp have hit a cold patch (Sharp, just off injury, is notoriously streaky). Our #5 D-man, Rozival has been AWFUL, and can be exploited.

I will be lurking today, and be hanging around the GT...Good Luck to your Flames.

[JonDuke]

I hope Erixon miraculously makes the game tonight and Hartley dresses McGrattan. Far fetched, but one can dream.

[sureLoss]

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
#Flames setup this AM looking like:
Colborne-Granlund-Byron;
Glencross-Monahan-Jones
Gaudreau-Jooris-Hudler;
Raymond-Stajan-Bouma.

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames projected defence vs. #Blackhawks:
Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Diaz-Engelland

Goaltenders:
Hiller (Starter)
Ramo


Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames PP at morning skate:

Gaudreau-Colborne/Granlund-Hudler
Russell-Wideman

Glencross/Jones-Monahan-Raymond
Brodie-Giordano

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Every time I hear the name Darling all I can think of is this.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/521618...ptain_darling/

Can't embed.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
#Flames setup this AM looking like:
Colborne-Granlund-Byron;
Glencross-Monahan-Jones
Gaudreau-Jooris-Hudler;
Raymond-Stajan-Bouma.

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames projected defence vs. #Blackhawks:
Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Diaz-Engelland

Goaltenders:
Hiller (Starter)
Ramo


Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames PP at morning skate:

Gaudreau-Colborne/Granlund-Hudler
Russell-Wideman

Glencross/Jones-Monahan-Raymond
Brodie-Giordano

I like Cali's lineup better.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by thefoss1957

A lot of 'Hawk fans have been enamored with Darling, IMO, Raanta is light years better at tracking the puck and controlling rebounds...Darling is simply huge, and the league (up to now) has lacked a book on him...the Isles started to solve him last night.

Through the recent streak...the 'Hawk offense has been inconsistent. Two lines have been very good, and two, not so good. Versteeg/Richards/Kane and Smith/Kruger/Caricillo have carried play, and only Saad from the top line has been dangerous...Hossa and Sharp have hit a cold patch (Sharp, just off injury, is notoriously streaky). Our #5 D-man, Rozival has been AWFUL, and can be exploited.

I will be lurking today, and be hanging around the GT...Good Luck to your Flames.

Thanks for the write up. If you think Rozival can be exploited, wait until you see Calgary's bottom pairing.

[EastCoastFlamesFan]

A nice treat for us Flames fans in the States. I think this might be the only game on NHL Network or NBC Sports this year. Was this added at the last minute? I feel like I do not remember seeing this in the original game schedule for NHL Network.

Go Flames Go!

[ExiledFlamesFan]

Tough matchup but we really need a win. Cmon boys.

[locsofblu]

Praying for a win tonight and I hope they learned a thing or two over that 4 game slide Go Flames Go!.

[Husky]

Unless Hiller stands on his head again, flames lose this one.

[direwolf]

This game has all the makings of a disaster, but the Flames always step it up against the elite teams, and they've proven they can skate with the Hawks. If the Flames can cut down on their recent defensive lapses and do their best to limit Patrick Kane, I think they'll have a chance to get back in the win column tonight. A solid outing from Hiller will help as well. Go Flames!

[thefoss1957]

Originally Posted by direwolf

This game has all the makings of a disaster, but the Flames always step it up against the elite teams, and they've proven they can skate with the Hawks. If the Flames can cut down on their recent defensive lapses and do their best to limit Patrick Kane, I think they'll have a chance to get back in the win column tonight. A solid outing from Hiller will help as well. Go Flames!

The Flames have NOT been a walk over for my guys, the last few years, and many games in this matchup have come down to goalie stolen points!

For your guys, limiting neutral zone, and zone entry turnovers is a necessity. Keep the 'Hawks from being able to get transitional rushes, and odd-men breakouts from failed zone entries. Also, positional discipline while maintaining inside position on the 'Hawk O-Zone Cycle (one of the league's best), is key...Keep the 'Hawks on the perimeter, and remember that the weak side D-man sneaking to the back door is a MAJOR threat.

To generate offense, the 'Hawk D-men can be pressured into mistakes...and lurking the stretch pass lane in the center of the ice, can be turned back to offense by alert guys with good sticks. Also, being aware that the 'Hawks take risks by using the D-Man in the slot, in front of their own goal, as a pivot when winning scrums off the boards, as both Keith and Oduya will hit Seabrook or Hjammer, at the top of our own crease, who then makes the pass to the exiting forward. Clutterbuck's goal, for the Isles, came from taking that pass away, yesterday.

[J epworth]

The Flames NEED to get the first goal tonight. Too many times they've been playing from behind and as we've seen the last 4 games, the firepower isn't always there to get that tying goal. All I want to see today is a simple boring road game where we take the lead and then throttle the middle of the ice. Keep the counterattacks going, that quick breakout pass that has worked so well for us, and work on that lead off the rush. No last minute heroics needed, just a simple win to get us off this slide.

Go Flames Go!

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

The Flames NEED to get the first goal tonight. Too many times they've been playing from behind and as we've seen the last 4 games, the firepower isn't always there to get that tying goal. All I want to see today is a simple boring road game where we take the lead and then throttle the middle of the ice. Keep the counterattacks going, that quick breakout pass that has worked so well for us, and work on that lead off the rush. No last minute heroics needed, just a simple win to get us off this slide.

Go Flames Go!

I will say this. Of late, when the Flames have the lead, they play a game much more to their strengths.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

The Flames NEED to get the first goal tonight. Too many times they've been playing from behind and as we've seen the last 4 games, the firepower isn't always there to get that tying goal. All I want to see today is a simple boring road game where we take the lead and then throttle the middle of the ice. Keep the counterattacks going, that quick breakout pass that has worked so well for us, and work on that lead off the rush. No last minute heroics needed, just a simple win to get us off this slide.

Go Flames Go!

I don't think the game plan is quite that simple against the Chicago Blackhawks. You need to score minimum 3 goals to have a fighting chance, and go from there...

[gargamel]

On my way to the game. It will almost certainly be my only one of the year, so hopefully the boys make it a good one.