[GDT] Flames vs. Sabres, 7 pm, SNW

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Flames: 25-19-3, 53 points, 4th in the Pacific, 8th in the West, 16th in the NHL

Sabres: 14-30-3, 31 points, 8th in the Atlantic, 16th in the East, Dead Last in the NHL


First of all, hello to OutOfTheCube, our resident Sabres fan (for some reason, probably lost on him as well). I’m sure you’ll see him lurking today waiting for the Sabres to find a way to beat the Flames again.

Well, the Tank is strong with this group. Losers of 11 straight in regulation has put them firmly first in the Connor McDavid Standings. Their last win was on Dec. 27th, a shootout win over the New York Islanders, which broke another 4 game losing streak. That means they have had 1 win in their last 16 games, just pitiful. It’s not like they were playing top competition either. They had games in that stretch against New Jersey, Carolina, Colorado, Ottawa, Minnesota and Philly.

Of course, the Flames happened to catch them in the middle of a weird 4 game hot streak, and a period where this team happened to win 10 of 13 games, against some very good teams too. As you can see above, they only have 14 wins all year, so that stretch might be all they had to offer to the win column this entire year. Well, now the tables have turned. The Sabres can’t buy a win and are beginning a western road trip against a Flames team that’s still stinging from a bad/unlucky loss to the Ducks before the all-star break, ending a 4 game winning streak. If the Flames don’t absolutely whup the Sabres tonight, I (and many other Flames fans) will be extremely disappointed.

Back to the Sabres, before this streak they had a terrible goal differential in the mid 30s. That was bad, but it was still comparable to the Oilers and Coyotes. Since then, they have perfected losing in a big way, building that goal differential to an astounding -78. I can’t even comprehend losing that badly every night. The next closest teams are still Edmonton and Arizona, but at a -49 and -51, it’s not even close compared to the real tankers this year are. The goals against are insane, up to 3.53 GA/G (30th in NHL), but over the last 11 it’s nearing grotesque standards for the NHL at 4.45 GA/G. Their penalty kill is operating at 73.8% (30th). If the Flames don’t score on the powerplay tonight, I don’t know what it will take. This game has confidence booster written all over it for the Flames man-advantage, which it desperately needs as it’s now fallen to 16.5% and 23rd in the league. Not that long ago, they were in the top 10.

Sticking with special teams, the Flames much maligned PK has done ok of late, only giving up 3 PP goals in 8 games since the new year began. Unfortunately, that was good for only about 76.8%, which is right on par with their average for the entire year. It seems like the Flames best penalty killing strategy is to just not take a penalty, which they managed to do for 2 games in a row earlier. It should comfort the Flames to know that if they do happen to take a penalty tonight, they are facing the absolute worst power play in the entire league, operating at a lowly 9.9%. I can’t remember the last time I saw a single digit power play percentage. It’s not like the Sabres will score much 5 on 5 either. They have the worst offense operating below 2 goals a game at 1.77 GF/G. Their 5 on 5 F/A ratio is humbly the worst as well at 0.59. I could go on as to how bad the Sabres are this year, and especially of late, but it’s probably boring at this point.

Of course, it should be noted that they were up 3-0 on the Red Wings in their last game, and then managed to give up 6 to lose badly yet again.

Roster Notes: Curtis Glencross and Ladislav Smid are still on the IR and out for the forseeable future, although the Flames are claiming that Glencross might be ready for Thursday’s game. In the mean time, Sven Baertschi, David Wolf, and Tyler Wotherspoon have been recalled to fill out the practice roster spots, and are unlikely to play tonight, but don’t rule out any of those players getting some ice time in the future. The Sabres are without a real backup goaltender as Michal Neuvirth (as well as 3rd stringer Nathan Lieuwen) are injured, but the biggest blow came when they had to suspend Nikita Zadorov for failing to report to the team on time following the all-star break. No word on how long they plan to keep him out, and he will likely play at some point on this trip, but it won’t be tonight. The Sabres are also missing notables such as McCormick, Weber, and Foligno. However, Brian Gionta is scheduled to return after being out since Dec 21st with a concussion.

Flames
Gaudreau-Jooris-Hudler
Bouma-Monahan-Jones
Raymond-Backlund-Colborne
Bollig-Stajan-Byron

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Diaz-Engelland

Hiller

Sabres
Moulson-Girgensons-Ennis
Mitchell-Flynn-Gionta
Stafford-Hodgson-Stewart
Deslaurier-Ellis-Kaleta

Myers-Gorges
Ristolainen-Strachan
Benoit-Meszaros

Enroth





Go Flames Go!!!

[rbochan]

[Poe969]

8-3 Flames. Hiller lets in 3 goals, if it was Ortio it would be 8-0 though.

[Erick Estrada]

A win nets 2 out of a possible 4 points against the Sabres which is a big misstep for a team that's tooth and nail to make the playoffs. A loss in regulation or OT tonight would be a complete disaster.

[Vinny01]

I think I will end up missing this game which is too bad because this has won written all over it

[flambers]

Would guess this is a low scoring 2-1 type of game. Very little offense tonight.

Flames find a way to win this one, but its an ugly game.

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

First of all, hello to OutOfTheCube, our resident Sabres fan (for some reason, probably lost on him as well). I’m sure you’ll see him lurking today waiting for the Sabres to find a way to beat the Flames again.

Here I am!

I'll be at the game tonight, section 201 near the back. It's kind of a win-win for me -- honestly it's better to have the Flames win, as Buffalo is horri-bad and so far out of it we're counting losses as McDavid points. But I also wouldn't mind seeing a win in the one game I get to go to this season.

So, go good game!

[locsofblu]

Would love to see Raymond and Diaz benched for Sven and Wotherspoon. No brainer this is a must win game, going with a 4 -1 win tonight. Bollig with all 4 goals of course.

[genetic_phreek]

Would love to see the lines like this tonight:

Gaudreau-Jooris-Hudler
Wolf-Monahan-Jones
Baertschi-Backlund-Colborne
Bouma-Stajan-Byron

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Wotherspoon-Diaz

Ramo

6-1 Flames. Book it.

[Flamescat]

Hat trick for Girgensons, flames squeak a win, Latvia rejoices.

[saillias]

Let's hope our creampuff D can find a way to not get bullied by Tyler Ennis again.

[genetic_phreek]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Here I am!

I'll be at the game tonight, section 201 near the back. It's kind of a win-win for me -- honestly it's better to have the Flames win, as Buffalo is horri-bad and so far out of it we're counting losses as McDavid points. But I also wouldn't mind seeing a win in the one game I get to go to this season.

So, go good game!

What's the word on Grigorenko? He was highly touted and still couldn't crack this last place lineup. Has his development regressed? Or is he showing signs of improvement?

[justing]

Thanks for the great write-up as always Cali!


Just a heads up, I'm giving away free tickets to tonight's game. Just post in this thread to enter: http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...78#post5108678

Contest closes at 2pm.
GFG!!!

[polak]

I'm far from confident about this game.

The last time we played the Sabres was the worst game of the season in my opinion. It was the first time you could really tell this team was coming back down to earth. Just terrible decision making and sloppy play all around.

[GioforPM]

Last time Enroth played very well. Apparently the Sabres' goaltending has fallen off, according to Ray. Brodie won't have the horrid game he did last time against them, and Backlund is back and good for a goal.

I will be there tonight. If the tickets are the same as last time I went with this company, it will be midway in the club section, so great seats.

[polak]

Oh don't get me wrong, this is a winable game without a doubt. The thing is it was winable last time too. I'm just saying that maybe we shouldn't already be celebrating this one just yet.

Enroth played OKAY last time. A lot of people thought he played awesome because we put a lot of shots on net but we had very few scoring chances that made it through.

But yeah, hopefully Brodie doesn't forget how to play hockey out of no where again. That was easily his worst performance so far this season. Backlund should help too!

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by polak

Oh don't get me wrong, this is a winable game without a doubt. The thing is it was winable last time too. I'm just saying that maybe we shouldn't already be celebrating this one just yet.

Enroth played OKAY last time. A lot of people thought he played awesome because we put a lot of shots on net but we had very few scoring chances that made it through.

But yeah, hopefully Brodie doesn't forget how to play hockey out of no where again. That was easily his worst performance so far this season. Backlund should help too!

Every game is winnable, this is the NHL. Last time we played Buffalo they were one of the hottest teams in the league. Right now Buffalo is playing worse than the Oilers and they've got a depleted lineup. There's no reason to be pessimistic about this game.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Every game is winnable, this is the NHL. Last time we played Buffalo they were one of the hottest teams in the league. Right now Buffalo is playing worse than the Oilers and they've got a depleted lineup. There's no reason to be pessimistic about this game.

I've heard that quote a hundred times over the years. I will be extremely disappointed if we somehow find a way to lose this one.

[foshizzle11]

Seems like all the games are must wins now, they all matter. I think we win tonight 3-2, it will be a close one and the flames will squeak one out late in the 3rd.

Do we know the lineup for tonight? I hope we at least get to see one of Sven or Wolf tonight.

[sureLoss]

painfully obvious who doesn't read the OP.