Flames: 8-13-2, 18 points, 6th in Pacific, 12th in West, 28th in NHL.
Sharks: 13-9-0, 26 points, 2nd in Pacific, 6th in West, 13th in NHL.
That game last night sucked any joy I've ever had for the game of hockey right out of me. What an awful brand of winning hockey the Coyotes play. Tippett should be charged with crimes against humanity for that mess. Oh well, on to the next team, the Pete DeBoer coached San Jose Sharks....oh crap, more of the same.
So a change of coaches has put the Sharks roughly back where they should be, middle of the pack. They're ok offensively (13th) and they're better than average defensively (8th). Their power play is just as bad as ours, both are 14.1%, and their penalty kill is middle of the pack at 80%. Pavelski continues to lead the team in the absence of Logan Couture who has missed the majority of the season with a broken fibula. Brent Burns leads the back end with 9 goals and 19 points already on the year, and Martin has stabilized a defense that also has Vlasic and Braun who are capable. The Sharks are still getting decent contributions from Joel Ward, Patrick Marleau, and Joe Thornton, but all are definitely on the downslope of their careers at this point. Overall the forwards have been a little underwhelming, with only 4 players having more than 3 goals on the season (Pavelski, Burns, Ward, Marleau). That's what you get with a DeBoer coached team though...he sucks the offense right out of his players.
The Flames managed a point in Arizona last night, but it was still a lackluster game. There's still very little passion in their game, and they are pushed far too easily to the perimeter of the ice. It won't get much easier tonight against a sizable Sharks team. At least Giordano scored his 5th goal of the season last night, tying him for 4th on the team in goal scoring. He still has a team worst -15 though, and he's got a long way to go to make that number look better. Even the defensively suspect Wideman is only a -10, but the whole team except two players are in the minus. Who are those two players you ask? Michael Frolik who we all have appreciated this year for his strong two-way play, and the other is the offensively challenged and much-maligned Deryk Engelland. They're both a +1, but Engelland has just 2 assists on the year compared to Frolik's 14 points. Is it weird to think that Engelland might be our best defenseman this season? If so, that's depressing, and I'm not an Engelland hater or anything. Even though he has limited minutes, he's done his job exceptionally well. The only reason I can think of is because he keeps his game simple. Everyone else is trying to do so much and they're overthinking the play, trying to be too creative, and it's leading to turnovers. Yes, Brodie has had a very positive impact on the team, but he's also been prone to major defensive gaffs at times, as has Giordano, Hamilton, Russell, Wideman etc. etc. etc.
This team has got to find it's swagger again. They have to start believing that their abilities are good enough if they just stick to the game plan and execute it at a high level. Don't get outworked and win the individual battles. Hockey clichés are used often for a reason.
Roster Notes: Both Justin Braun and Ben Smith are questionable for tonight's game. Logan Couture remains out long term. Hiller is off IR and might be the starter for tonight's game, although there's no confirmation of that. However, since Ramo has played a lot of games in a row, it might be time to give him a break. Lines will be updated throughout the day.
I'm not sure I can handle two games in two nights that lower the level of excitement to that equaling the moments after you receive your anesthetic before surgery.
But I will watch and hope the Flames can work through it to get two points. Go Flames.
^ I was watching while out for dinner last night but that Ferland hit could not have been any cleaner. Ugly result but not a single hard stride was taken pre hit and it was simply Ferlands strength catching the Coyote off guard. Brutal call IMO (as were some of the calls against the Coyotes later on)
Tonight will be the first game I do not watch all year. I am also of the belief that playoffs are still in the picture. That 8 game losing streak that almost kept them out of the playoffs will be a 8 game winning streak that just gets them into the playoffs.
The fact some of the "strugglers" took a step forward last night is a good start... 8 in a row starts tonight
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Travis Munroe | Century 21 Elevate | 403.971.4300
Flames/Sharks games are always exciting and the Flames seem to wake up when playing them. Looking forward to a spirited battle and Hiller hopefully playing strong.
Flames @ Sharks, 8 pm, CBC
