[GDT] Flames @ Lightning, 5:30 PM MST. Sportsnet West, Fan 960

[Puppet Guy]

From frosty Minnesota to sunny Florida, the Flames look to build on their win streak tonight in Tampa Bay. A tall order against the top team in the NHL, but everything's a battle from now on.

Setting the table: (www.calgarysun.com)

With his second-period marker in Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild, Sean Monahan became the second player in franchise history to score at least 20 goals in each of his first five NHL seasons with the Flames. The 23-year-old has 20 goals and 19 assists in 42 games this season as Monahan joined Kent Nilsson who did so in each of his first six seasons with the franchise from 1979-80 to 1984-85. He was also tied with Brayden Point for first in the NHL with seven game-winning goals (heading into Wednesday’s action).

Defenceman Dougie Hamilton came up in overtime, potting the winner with 2:21 remaining in the extra frame to lift the Flames to a 3-2 win over the Wild. It was the 24-year-old blueliner’s first overtime winner of the season, but it wasn’t the first time he’s answered the bell. Hamilton is currently tied with Mark Giordano with three game-winners. But given his penchant for making a difference when it matters, perhaps he should be tapped on the shoulder in OT more often. The Flames have played 12 overtime games this season, and Hamilton has only played 1:10 of ice time.

The Flames are 12-4-0-0 when Sean Monahan scores a goal in a game … D TJ Brodie is one point away from 200 in his NHL career … The Calgary club is riding its first four-game win streak this season and is undefeated in 2018 (so far) … RW Micheal Ferland is having a career season with 18 goals and eight assists in 41 games … The Flames continue a four-game road trip which also sees stops in Florida on Friday and Carolina on Sunday.

lineups, subject to change (www.dailyfaceoff.com)

FLAMES

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Brouwer
Bennett - Jankowski - Hathaway
Mangiapane - Stajan - Lazar

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Hamonic
Kulak - Stone

Smith

LIGHTNING

Kunitz - Stamkos - Kucherov
Palat - Point - Johnson
Gourde - Namestnikov - Killorn
Brown - Paquette - Callahan

Hedman -Dotchin
Stralman - Sergachev
Girardi - Coburn

Vasilevskiy

The stars meet tonight for some wars on the ice. Emperor Puppetine will make young Stamkoswalker and his friends pay for their lack of vision:

Spoiler!

Go Flames

[CaptainCrunch]

this is a measuring stick game, Tampa is a strong team that's very good at exposing weaknesses in your D-Zone play.

I would think that Tampa's speed and tempo is a huge advantage here.

[Icon]

Please have an energetic start...

[Toonage]

This is the kind of game you don't expect this team to win but they will. Tomorrow is the one that causes me more worry oddly enough. Weird stuff seems to go down against the Panthers in their building. Anyway, Flames win tonight.

[kukkudo]

Flames better come out ready to play. Lightning pick apart teams quick.

[fire_starter]

I recall beating the bolts 3-2 in their barn last year. I mean sure they weren't as good as they are this year but it's still not impossible.

Plus we had Elliott and still managed it. Yeesh.

[camm13]

Better be disciplined against that lethal powerplay.

[FlamesFanTrev]

Hrivik in please?

[Firebot]

If you told me 2 weeks ago that the Flames would beat Chicago, LA, Anaheim, and Minnesota on the road after their effort level in prior games, I would have laughed.

This is the Flames biggest test of the year against a very strong team. Let's see what happens.

[direwolf]

This game frightens me. Flames will need a strong, high-tempo start if they want to give themselves a chance in this one.

And for the love of all that is holy, please stay out of the box.

[mrdonkey]

When you look at the schedule, this is one of the games you just can't be upset about if they lose. Tampa is stacked this year.

[Table 5]

Flames tend to play well against these types of elite teams. I think they take this to OT at least...and probably lose tomorrow.

[Makarov]

I seldom make predictions but I have a feeling in my bones: 3-2 OT win.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by FlamesFanTrev

Hrivik in please?

4 game winning streak. I wouldn't change a thing right now.

[DJones]

Better play disciplined tonight. Special teams are not going to be in our favor tonight.

[sixpacked]

I'm wearing my red Flames boxers today, undefeated with them so far this season!! I m seeing a 4-3 win in regulation and Jankowksi with the GWG.

[Funkhouser]

It was in

#neverforget

[sixpacked]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

It was in

#neverforget

Frack you St Louis, Frack You Andreychuk Frack You Lacavaliier

[tvp2003]

I expect this to be a close game -- Flames tend to play to the level of their competition. That actually might explain why they always play like garbage against Edmonton, but that's for another thread...

Flames win 4-3 in OT, with Gaudreau scoring the winner; Monahan doesn't celebrate again.

[IGGYFORMVP]

Originally Posted by sixpacked

I'm wearing my red Flames boxers today, undefeated with them so far this season!! I m seeing a 4-3 win in regulation and Jankowksi with the GWG.

Well it is obvious you can never take them off now. By the time we win the cup you may not have any friends left. But I am sure you are willing to take one for the team.