[GDT] Flames VS Preds - 6PM - 📺 @Sportsnet West 📻: @Sportsnet960

[kukkudo]

Gotta win this. 4-2 is a nice road trip. Lose this and its 3-3 and going home with the record the way it is they playoff gap could increase by next week.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

So you're expecting a 3-3 road trip to mask the fact that this Flames team is bordering on incompetent on home ice? This team needs to go 4-2 on road trips like this to cover up the fact they will likely go 3-3 in the next stretch of home games.

Winning this game will be a very tough task. The Flames need this one bad so they better bring it tonight. Absolutely need to win the special teams battle for once to pull this off.

If I had to hazard a guess I would expect that this poster actually just chooses to be optimistic because it is generally more enjoyable and much less stressful. At least, that's my excuse for positively evaluating a 3–3 road trip with 25 games left to play.

GFG.

[Ullr]

I'm expecting a goalie battle tonight, with over 30 shots from both teams. And the final score being 2-0 Flames, with an EN goal.

[bax]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I really wish you would quit this crap. You know it's possible to engage in conversation without the backhanded comments. Maybe you could start taking the high road and try to be part of the solution here instead of being part of the problem.

Nobody said it was do or die but this team doesn't have a good home record to fall back on. Most teams are happy to come home .500 on a road trip as they have better home records. That's not the Flames as they are the exact opposite where the only reason they are in the playoff race is because of their road record. Coming home from a .500 road trip means they really have to pick up their game on home ice.

Honestly, they don’t even need to pick up their game on home ice. If you dig into the stats they have played very similar on home ice as they have on the road. A woeful home shooting percentage is what’s dragging them down.

Everything will balance out eventually. Just need to to win games, whether they’re at the dome or not.

[btimbit]

WCF preview tonight!

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

So you're expecting a 3-3 road trip to mask the fact that this Flames team is bordering on incompetent on home ice? This team needs to go 4-2 on road trips like this to cover up the fact they will likely go 3-3 in the next stretch of home games.

Winning this game will be a very tough task. The Flames need this one bad so they better bring it tonight. Absolutely need to win the special teams battle for once to pull this off.

Actually the Flames have almost exclusively better metrics on home ice with the huge exception of goaltending.

Law of averages was suggesting some weak results on the road and some better results on home ice.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

If I had to hazard a guess I would expect that this poster actually just chooses to be optimistic because it is generally more enjoyable and much less stressful. At least, that's my excuse for positively evaluating a 3–3 road trip with 25 games left to play.

GFG.

3-3 road trip isn't a failure by any means and for most teams a positive but the way this team has played this season they are in a situation in that if they can't do better at home they are going to have to be above .500 on their road trips for the remainder of the season. It's not being pessimistic as the fact is the team hasn't been good at home. Maybe they will finish out the season better on home ice just like maybe the powerplay will improve. Until either happens it's more about hope than anything that can be substantiated by recent history.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Actually the Flames have almost exclusively better metrics on home ice with the huge exception of goaltending.

Law of averages was suggesting some weak results on the road and some better results on home ice.

I've not checked but it seems to me they have more hard luck offensively at home as well.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

So you're expecting a 3-3 road trip to mask the fact that this Flames team is bordering on incompetent on home ice? This team needs to go 4-2 on road trips like this to cover up the fact they will likely go 3-3 in the next stretch of home games.

Winning this game will be a very tough task. The Flames need this one bad so they better bring it tonight. Absolutely need to win the special teams battle for once to pull this off.

Just pointing out that a potential loss wouldn't be the end of the world as there is time to recover. And that also includes their play on home ice this season. They can recover.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I've not checked but it seems to me they have more hard luck offensively at home as well.

For sure ... but their scoring chance splits and shot metrics are better on home ice than they are on the road.

Smith away from home as inflated their road record, but he's also deflated their home record

[Timbo]

Since it’s my Birthday 56 and also Jagr’s 46 Flames will win 6-5 or 6-4 take your pick. The stars have aligned... it is known.

[Enoch Root]

This game is no more, or no less, important than any other. They have 25 games left. Relax and enjoy it.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Bingo

For sure ... but their scoring chance splits and shot metrics are better on home ice than they are on the road.

Smith away from home as inflated their road record, but he's also deflated their home record

I am a little nervous because of course nothing is guaranteed. Our road results could regress to the expected results and the home results could still stink.

Whether it’s luck, will to win, mental toughness, whatever I hope we see a little more of it so we can rack up more of the only stat that counts.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Gonna watch this one from the hot-tub tonight! GFG!

That is a long soak. #pruneeffect

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Absolutely need to win the special teams battle for once to pull this off.

I almost spat my water all over the keyboard reading this one.

GFG!

[Calgary4LIfe]

Tough game tonight. Flames have to find a way to generate offence tonight - at even strength and hopefully on the PP. That is two stingy teams in a row that the Flames are facing.

This is a tough game to focus on - last game of the road trip and all. Hopefully they get off to a strong start and set the tone. I thought it was a bit of a mistake trying to play the Bruins so aggressively, but I do think it is the right approach in trying to play the Predators with that same level of physicality, especially on the forecheck against their defencemen. They need to get in hard against them since the Preds are so good at moving the puck out of their zone quickly and effectively. Their forecheck will have a lot to do with how this game goes tonight.

[Karl]

just win...

[WhiteTiger]

Go Flames go!

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Win tonight and it's a 4-2 road trip in some tough buildings to play in. I would take that every day of the week.

To be fair, you'd take 0-82 with a smile and a lecture for the disappointed.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Actually the Flames have almost exclusively better metrics on home ice with the huge exception of goaltending.

Law of averages was suggesting some weak results on the road and some better results on home ice.

Metrics certainly don't tell the entire story as I don't think there is any doubt this team hasn't been better on the road most of the season based solely on viewing them game in and game out. Something is just off with this team when they play in the Dome and I can't see that doing a 180 unless the PP finally finds it's legs.

A win tonight will provide much needed cushion going into a tough sled at home for this group and should do wonders for their confidence against an elite team like the Preds. It's a big game in the sense that a win could potentially create some much needed separation in the race again.