[GDT] Canucks @ Flames, 8:00 PM MT (Sportsnet 1/Sportsnet Pacific / Fan 960)

[Cheese]

Calgary Flames: (No official lineup yet)

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Mangiapane
Gaudreau-Monahan-Simon
Lucic-Bennett-Dube
Froese-Nordstrom-Leivo

Hanifin-Tanev
Giordano-Valimaki
Andersson-Mackey

Markstrom

Vancouver Nucks: (No official Lineup yet)

Pearson-Horvat-Hoglander
Bailey-Sutter-Gaudette
Miller-Pettersson-Boeser
Roussel-Beagle-MacEwen

Edler-Schmidt
Juolevi-Myers
Hughes-Benn

Demko


Connor Mackey


...in the case of Calgary Flames rookie defenceman Connor Mackey, his teammates didn’t seem to be in any rush to share the spotlight. He was out there by his lonesome for close to 30 seconds. “They were all excited for me, telling me to get out there, to lead us out, so I kind of knew it was coming,” Mackey said of Saturday’s solo spin at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. “But it was a long one. I was like, ‘Holy cow!’ It felt like forever. I’m thinking, ‘Where are the guys at?’
“But it was pretty cool and I think it made it more special that way. They teed it up, I guess.”
Mackey’s second NHL appearance — the Flames rebounded from Saturday’s lacklustre loss with a 4-3 overtime victory on Family Day — brought a little bit more alone time for the new guy in No. 3.
The 24-year-old was busted for three minor penalties.
Cross-checking. Then high-sticking. Then hooking.



You can buy 50/50 tickets here: cflam.es/5050

[btimbit]

After this, we don't see Vancouver for 42 days.

Let's give them something to remember us!

[Erick Estrada]

It would be nice to see a dominant effort as even in their wins it seems like they are just hanging on in most of them. Winning 3/4 would put this team in a good place in regards to keeping the Canucks in the rear view mirror for good.

[Huntingwhale]

Win or lose doesn't matter; looking forward to the PGT being an absolute ####show again.

[dissentowner]

I turned 46 today so I expect a 46-0 win. Tanev scores 43 of them. GFG.

[kobasew19]

Hope to see Nesterov back, no offence to Mackey, but feel like he helps solidify the d core way better.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by kobasew19

Hope to see Nesterov back, no offence to Mackey, but feel like he helps solidify the d core way better.

Agreed. The kid got his feet wet and did pretty well in his two games. He'll be back in the lineup before long, but I would like to see Nesterov draw in.

Also Backlund.

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[Wolfman]

I'd like to go back to this top 6

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Backlund - Mangiapane
Lucic - Bennett - Dube
Simon/Nordstrom - Gawdin/Froese - Leivo

Valimaki - Andersson
Hanifin - Tanev
Giordano - Mackey/Nesterov

Markstrom

[Stanley]

Why the hell is Nesterov out of the lineup?!!
...and this Simon experiment...just stop. I'd rather have Buddy frikin Robinson on that wing

[Voodooman]

So, Markstrom tonight, Rittich Friday and then 3 more Markstrom starts in a row, I’m thinking.

Part of me wants to see Rittich get more time and find his game, but the team is so fragile right now, they desperately need the calming influence of Markstrom. But at some point, Rittich is going to have to play more than once every 3 weeks, and it doesn’t inspire confidence right now.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Stanley

Why the hell is Nesterov out of the lineup?!!

We are not sure that Nesterov is out today. The reason he was out the last two games is because he is a #6 defenseman and the team will want others on their taxi squad to get reps in the season. This will not be the last time.


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[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Voodooman

So, Markstrom tonight, Rittich Friday and then 3 more Markstrom starts in a row, I’m thinking.

Part of me wants to see Rittich get more time and find his game, but the team is so fragile right now, they desperately need the calming influence of Markstrom. But at some point, Rittich is going to have to play more than once every 3 weeks, and it doesn’t inspire confidence right now.

I said last week that I would like to see Rittich play tonight and Friday. The Flames have played MUCH better at home and it is a good idea to set him up for success.

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[zukes]

A win here and that likely ends Vancouver's hopes for the post-season, which seems weird to say in a season where you are playing in your division every game, so let's just say it puts a damper on their hopes.

I think the Flames finally come out in what could be a trap game and lay a beating down. I'll go with 5-1 Flames with Rittich in net.

[Niemo]

Is Nesterov hurt?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

We are not sure that Nesterov is out today. The reason he was out the last two games is because he is a #6 defenseman and the team will want others on their taxi squad to get reps in the season. This will not be the last time.


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I suspect that with the coaching staff wanting Andersson to just relax and focus on his 5 v 5 play and needing to move him off the Gio pairing to do so, that they didnt want to put Nesterov in a role with a bunch more minutes attached. Obviously they thought that Mackey could handle that situation better because of his different skill set than that of RA.

If they are satisfied that RA has worked out the kinks in his game then Nesterov draws back in but otherwise im guessing we see the same line up.

Also...you just cant take 3 minors in a game as a player but particularly as a raw rookie. It suggests you arent ready for the speed of the NHL and cant be relied on in certain situations. Im sure he has had a good talking too about it all. He looked really solid otherwise though and has a bright future ahead...hell maybe even this season if the need arises.

Unlike many here, I liked the way the team played last game...looked like they were starting to come out of a collective funk sans all the penalties they had to kill.

Flames win 5-2.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Niemo

Is Nesterov hurt?

Don't think so, he's just the 6th guy on the depth chart and the one they'll sit to give someone else some games


I didn't like 100% of Mackey's play, but I have to say, he definitely did look like an NHL dman. What a joy to nab a guy like that out of nowhere

[Winsor_Pilates]

Solid win coming tonight. 4-1.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Unlike many here, I liked the way the team played last game...looked like they were starting to come out of a collective funk sans all the penalties they had to kill.



Flames win 5-2.

Yeah, I thought so too. I saw complaints about the third period—I suspect because of the high shot-count—but I thought the Flames played really solid with a lead against a desperzte team, and they kept chances to a minimum. It looked calm and efficient to me.

Pick up from where they left off tonight and I think they win.

GFG


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[Niemo]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Don't think so, he's just the 6th guy on the depth chart and the one they'll sit to give someone else some games


I didn't like 100% of Mackey's play, but I have to say, he definitely did look like an NHL dman. What a joy to nab a guy like that out of nowhere

Gotcha. I’ve actually been impressed with Nesterov this season as a bottom pairing guy. I think he brings much more than Mackey or any other guy we have on the taxi squad.

[krynski]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I suspect that with the coaching staff wanting Andersson to just relax and focus on his 5 v 5 play and needing to move him off the Gio pairing to do so, that they didnt want to put Nesterov in a role with a bunch more minutes attached. Obviously they thought that Mackey could handle that situation better because of his different skill set than that of RA.

If they are satisfied that RA has worked out the kinks in his game then Nesterov draws back in but otherwise im guessing we see the same line up.

Also...you just cant take 3 minors in a game as a player but particularly as a raw rookie. It suggests you arent ready for the speed of the NHL and cant be relied on in certain situations. Im sure he has had a good talking too about it all. He looked really solid otherwise though and has a bright future ahead...hell maybe even this season if the need arises.

Unlike many here, I liked the way the team played last game...looked like they were starting to come out of a collective funk sans all the penalties they had to kill.

Flames win 5-2.

I agree. It's tough to be ahead at the end of the first in any game when you take 4 minor penalties in the first period. It shows some resilience when they came back with the end of first/2nd period they had. Flames came out with a W and that is the most important thing.

Also agree on Mackey. These are growing pains, and he's obviously not used to playing with these calibre players. He needs to be exposed to these situations and learn how to handle them. If he learns fast, I don't think it's a far stretch that he bumps Nesterov into the 7th spot eventually. Penalties aside, I think he played fairly well.

Every season, a number of posters hope that the Flames would develop their own as opposed to bringing in seasoned vets. I think it's good we have both. Mackey will likely develop into an NHL calibre player, but he needs time and patience to get there. Nesterov is UFA at the end of this season and he very well may leave and go elsewhere.