[GDT] Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks - 8:00 PM MDT

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by Wild GM

I think many teams make a mistake by starting their back ups against perceived weaker teams. Those are two points that you need as badly as any. With a long break coming up starting Smith to try to maintain a solid start to the year seems like a good decision

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yep, exactly this, especially after a loss. I think you go to the back up if you win the first one, but getting a "back up" performance that loses you the "easy" game right after you just lost is too risky, imo.

Too risky? So when is the right time? Against perceived better teams in "hard" games? Wait until later in the season to play your backup more?

Regardless of whether there's a break coming up or not, playing a goalie with an injury history 24 hrs after the last game, with travel in between, is a risk no team with a backup it trusts should take this early in the year, especially when it has a winning record.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Teams play their number one in back to backs all the time. So it doesn't seem like some crazy risk.

[Enoch Root]

Yeah, I don't think playing Lack is too risky - especially against the Canucks. And if you don't have confidence in him, then bring in someone else.

The one thing that changes this argument for me though, is the fact that they have 4 days off after this. And they lost last night.

Any other circumstance, and you have to play Lack here. But with 4 days off, I don't have a problem with the decision.

[Calgary4LIfe]

This was going to be the trap game in the schedule. Thankfully, Ottawa embarrassed Calgary (or more correctly, the Flames embarrassed themselves) so the Flames will probably come out like gangbusters tonight.

I wonder who is hurt. I wonder if Glass is also a bit nicked-up as well. Either way, Freddie is going to get around 20-25 games this season. I expect him to come out and give the Flames a lot of energy and speed tonight. I liked him when he came in (with Lazar) on that 4th game against Anaheim.

I do definitely expect a response from the Flames tonight. This better be a statement game from them.

Edit: Also, putting Smith back in seems like a good call actually. Let him go into this mini-break with a (hopefully) solid performance instead of dwelling on getting beat by the Sens. I don't have any issue with it at all, and Smith is supposedly in crazy shape anyways. Good call on Gulutzan's part I think.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by Wild GM

Teams play their number one in back to backs all the time. So it doesn't seem like some crazy risk.

[jayswin]

You need citation for that? It's pretty common. There's obviously more splits but it still happens all the time, especially if there's big breaks before or after the back to back like there is here for the Flames.

[Igottago]

Playing Smith is the right decision. Important divisional game and a chance to bounce back after last night. He's the number one.

[Galakanokis]

Originally Posted by bluck

I’m loooking for a ticket for tonights game name of said scalper haha?

Uncle Ken....

There's lots of scalpers out here right now. Just walk up. In the Shark Club right now, a few Flames fans here.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Racki

I just don't know what to expect. I have such a lack of confidence in this coaching staff. It seems like such a no brainer to move Bennett to the wing (preferably with Johnny and Monny) and bring Jankowski up to the big club. Why are we not putting our best possible lineup on the ice every night?

There is a perfectly valid reason why not.

Centers are worth a ton more than wingers. If you permanently move Bennett to the wing, you are tanking his value as an asset.

If Bennett can stick as a Center, that is a far greater benefit to the club long term than if he is only a winger. The organization also has zero prospect depth up the middle beyond Jankowski.

Between those two things, you give Bennett every opportunity to be a high quality center. If he can't cut it there by the mid/late season, then you move him to the wing full time and he'll be just fine. In that scenario, it then becomes vital to keep Backlund (not that you wouldn't anyway), and you would then need Jankowski to be good from the get go as a C. That too is likely but it's still a question mark.

By the time the playoffs roll around, I would frankly be surprised if Janko isn't on the roster in some capacity barring injury.

We just have to wait and see how players respond. Just like we did in camp with all the winger prospects before signing Jagr. Unfortunately that takes time.

[bubbsy]

I feel like I have been waiting for a year now for Sam Bennett's break out game. Please let it be tonight.

[calgaryblood]

Glad they went back with Smith. This is a big game.

[AC]

@Kristen_Odland
I don't see Matt Stajan on the ice. Stay tuned...

[sureLoss]

Stajan is listed as a scratch according to gamesheet on nhl.com

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreport...8/RO020074.HTM

So looks like he is injured.

[colbym72]

#Flames warm-up lines:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Lazar
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Bennett-Jagr
Glass-F.Hamilton-Brouwer

That fourth line. Wooooooffa

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by AC

@Kristen_Odland
I don't see Matt Stajan on the ice. Stay tuned...

...for the CP meltdown? No thanks.

[AC]

Originally Posted by colbym72

#Flames warm-up lines:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Lazar
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Bennett-Jagr
Glass-F.Hamilton-Brouwer

That fourth line. Wooooooffa

No Ferland either, damn. Maybe hurt from the fight?

Don't think he got hit with a punch, but easy to hurt a finger, hand, or shoulder while throwing /grabbing.

[sureLoss]

News Update

Kristen Odland @Kristen_Odland
now
So, long story short, looks like Glass/Hamilton are in ... Stajan/Ferland out.

[Finger Cookin]

Yet Derek Wills just tweeted that Ferland is in

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Jore]

Originally Posted by colbym72

#Flames warm-up lines:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Lazar
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Bennett-Jagr
Glass-F.Hamilton-Brouwer

That fourth line. Wooooooffa

love too ice an ahl line. good roster decisions

[Strange Brew]

Just so I have this right. The Calgary Flames believe that playing Freddie Hamilton at center gives them a better chance at winning than Mark Jankowski?