[GDT] Flames @ Kings, 8:30 pm, SN Flames

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Flames: 26-29-3, 55 points, 6th in Pacific, 12th in West, 25th in NHL.

Kings: 34-20-4, 72 points, 1st in Pacific, 4th in West, 7th in NHL.


The Flames continue their road trip through California tonight in L.A., a place where they've had some success compared to others over recent meetings. In their one and only meeting so far this year, the Flames lost 4-1 at a New Year's Eve game on home ice. Hopefully things go better on the road against a team who's had a resurgence after a poor year last year. The Kings have lead the Pacific division by a large margin all year, but with the recent surge by the Ducks, that lead has dwindled to just 2 points. The Kings are 4-5-1 in their last 10, and have struggled just a little against the better teams in the NHL of late. However, this is a very good team and shouldn't be taken lightly under any circumstances.

What are the Kings good at? Just about everything. 4th in GA/G at 2.33. 5th in Power Play at 22.2%. 11th in Penalty Kill at 82.2%. 13th in GF/G at 2.67. 2nd in shots/game at 32.5. 6th in shots against/game at 28.2. 1st in Shot Attempt % (basically Corsi) at 56.33%. And really haven't relied on luck all that much with just a 991 Shooting+Save %, ranked 23rd in the league. Realistically, the Kings should be considered a cup favorite yet again, meaning tonight will not be easy for a Flames team that has struggled in all areas not called 5 on 5 goal scoring all year long. It could be another long night.

We're at that point in the season that the Flames coaches, management, and players are likely to call it a year and start moving veteran players and giving prospects a chance to play. Don't get too hung up on results going forward. Look for trends with specific players, team play, cohesion, etc. This team is still building and has lots of pieces to be excited about. I doubt you see a lot of wins with either Hiller or Ortio in net the rest of the way anyway, so look at everything except how many goals go in the net against us.

Roster Notes: With the Granlund trade and subsequent assignment of Shinkaruk to Stockton, the Flames have a little more flexibility in their roster for tonight. It's possible that things are being left open for Russell to return to the lineup, but no word on him playing tonight. He might have a small lingering issue that requires rest, but I wouldn't be shocked if he was being held out intentionally while a trade gets finalized. This probably doesn't mean anything, but Wotherspoon wasn't on the Flames active roster this morning, however it's likely to be a clerical error since the website is notoriously inaccurate. The Kings could be without Anze Kopitar tonight as he sat out their last game on Saturday, along with Jordan Nolan who are both day to day. Kopitar, sounded very confident that he'll be back shortly, and has missed very few games in his NHL career, so I would be prepared to see him tonight. The Kings are also without Marion Gaborik long term, as he's questionable to even be ready for the playoffs after a knee injury last week. Matt Greene is out for the season with shoulder surgery.


Flames
Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Colborne-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Bennett-Jones
Bouma-Stajan-Jooris/Bollig?

Giordano-Brodie
Engelland-Hamilton
Wotherspoon-Nakladal

Hiller?

Kings
Lucic-Carter-Toffoli
Pearson-Lecavalier-Brown
King-Shore-Lewis
Clifford-Andreoff-Mersch

Muzzin-Doughty
Martinez-Schenn
McNabb-McBain

Quick


Go Flames Go!!!!!!


p.s.~ Seeing that this game starts a 10:30 P.M. for me, I will probably be in bed already with a 6 A.M. rise time tomorrow. I am relying on you all to give me some thorough reporting on the game tonight that I can read tomorrow. Thanks!

[Poe969]

meh...go sports?!

6-2 Flames. This game will up the trade value of Jones as he'll score 2 tonight.

[Puppet Guy]

Checkmate:

Spoiler!

]

GO FLAMES

[polak]

[TheScorpion]

I'd love to see us trade Jonesy for a 2nd + 4th, and then have him sign back here at 2 x 2.5. He's really solid on the 3rd line at RW, and at a lower salary (which he'll take) he'll be very useful if we make it back to the playoffs next year.

Also, yeah - what's with the 8:30?

Can Angelenos not mesh with a hockey game starting at 7?

[burn_this_city]

Another bull#### start time.

[Gaudfather]

Does Ortio get the net? If not get ready for another beat down.

If Hartley starts Hiller he is basically admitting he is in cahoots with the tank agenda.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I'd love to see us trade Jonesy for a 2nd + 4th, and then have him sign back here at 2 x 2.5. He's really solid on the 3rd line at RW, and at a lower salary (which he'll take) he'll be very useful if we make it back to the playoffs next year.

Also, yeah - what's with the 8:30?

Can Angelenos not mesh with a hockey game starting at 7?

what the what?? I think most would be happy if the Flames got a 3rd or 4th for Jones and I don't think anyone outside of guy with a David Jones avatar wants him back on the Flames.

This is a big night for the draft watchers though, with all the teams below the Flames in the standings playing, one of them is bound to win. The Flames could be 28th by this time tomorrow.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Poe969

what the what?? I think most would be happy if the Flames got a 3rd or 4th for Jones and I don't think anyone outside of guy with a David Jones avatar wants him back on the Flames.

This is a big night for the draft watchers though, with all the teams below the Flames in the standings playing, one of them is bound to win. The Flames could be 28th by this time tomorrow.

Happy to get a 3rd or 4th?

I don't think so. I see 19 as similar to Glencross, and he'll get a return of similar value. 2nd + 4th/5th.

[sureLoss]

Wills said this morning he thinks it is very likely that Ortio starts.

He said that the Flames had plans to start Ortio in Anaheim, but changed last moment to see if Hiller could get on a run after a strong performance against Vancouver.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Wills said this morning he thinks it is very likely that Ortio starts.

He said that the Flames had plans to start Ortio in Anaheim, but changed last moment to see if Hiller could get on a run after a strong performance against Vancouver.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

White with black stripes... must have thought he was a linesman

[Huntingwhale]

I absolutely hate these late starts on weekdays. Had a horrible sleep last night and was looking forward to going to bed early. Now I see it's a freakin' 830pm start. Common. Why is it we cater our times when we play Eastern teams like the Leafs, but West coast teams can't do the same for us? And it's always the California teams. Canuck games don't even start this late.

Being old blows.

[MillerTime GFG]

That last picture is phenomenal. The look on everyone's face pretty much sums it up, and is probably the same look I had when at that game.

[FBI]

2nd and 4th for Jones?? LOL cue the oh wait you're serious jpg..

Come on man, Jones sucks. He plays good and physical for 5 games a season.

I would take a 5th round pick for him and I cannot WAIT until he is off the team. Re-sign for 2.5?? NOO noo nooo noooooooooooo NO

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Happy to get a 3rd or 4th?

I don't think so. I see 19 as similar to Glencross, and he'll get a return of similar value. 2nd + 4th/5th.

That's CRAZY talk.

Lee Stempniak got a 3rd one year and he's a better player than Jones. Jones is not as good as Glencross was.

I would be shocked if we even got a 3rd rounder for him. I think his value is in the 4th-6th round range. You do realize Jones has played half the year on the 4th line right? Glencross was never on the 4th line for such a long period of time if at all.

[locsofblu]

Hope Ortio starts. Win or lose I'd like to see what we have with him.

[King Theo]

11:30 start time. I guess I will not be watching this one.

[Toonage]

Flames win 3-0. Ortio muddies the waters with a stellar performance

[Fire]

Originally Posted by King Theo

11:30 start time. I guess I will not be watching this one.

2nd tier fan.