[GDT] Chicago Blackhawks at Calgary Flames 7:00pm TV: SNW, CHSN, ESPN+ - RADIO SN960

[Cheese]

News Roundup!

5 Things - Flames vs. Blackhawks

2. Know Your Enemy

The Blackhawks have started the season 1-1-1, tonight's tilt marking the end of a four-game road trip to start the campaign for Chicago.

They fell 5-2 to the Utah Hockey Club on Oct. 8 in that team's franchise opener in Salt Lake City after relocating in the offseason from Arizona. They followed it up with a 2-1 OT loss to the Jets in Winnipeg on Oct. 11.

Connor Bedard collected three points in the club's first win, a solid 5-2 victory over the Oilers Saturday night in the Alberta capital.

Jonathan Huberdeau, Flames clash with Connor Bedard, Blackhawks

"I think what makes us work as a line is that we all bring something a bit different, but it complements each other well," Mantha said. "You've got one of the best passers in the world on that line in Huby. And then with Pospy, his work ethic is unbelievable

Blackhawks Prepare for Calgary: Maroon’s Impact, Kurashev’s Line, and More

Pat Maroon’s role as a physical presence is highlighted, with him being brought in to both deter opponents and contribute positively on the ice. Philipp Kurashev, having a breakout last season, is now tasked with leading the second line, essential for diversifying the team's scoring threats.

A Can’t Miss Matchup

The new-look locals have already provided a mittful of memories over the first three games of the season: Connor Zary’s incredible overtime goal to cap that wild comeback in Vancouver, Jonathan Huberdeau’s four-point night in the home opener, and Justin Kirkland’s first NHL goal in Sunday’s 4-1 win in the Battle of Alberta, just to name a few.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1845887293913288888

https://twitter.com/user/status/1845970341165687198

https://twitter.com/user/status/1845958976523194564

https://twitter.com/user/status/1846021518150848663

https://twitter.com/user/status/1845940242924425226

[jonesy]

Good morning sunshine

[Ba'alzamon]

That's a lot of red on those defensive heat maps.

[iloveicedhockey]

Clash of the least dangerous: two conquerors of the mighty reigning Stanley Cup Finalists (tm) go head to head.

[Tsawwassen]

Pregame links
https://www.foxsports.com/nhl/chicag...boxscore-41596
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...9-f7a270eb4668
https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/game...ckhawks-flames
https://www.espn.com/nhl/preview/_/gameId/401687654
https://winnersandwhiners.com/games/...ediction-3852/
https://statsalt.com/games/nhl/10-15...ediction-2943/


Game is on SiriusXM on channel 923 for a computer and other electronics
with the Flames feed and channel 167 in your vehicle.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think Chicago is much improved, especially considering their injuries last year. Should be another fun game to watch.

[Freddy]

Hoping for yet another hard working entertaining game. Go Flames!

[Goriders]

Battle of two teams written off by the media. Who maybe shouldn’t have been.

[Shazam]

Battle of the bottom feeders.

[Gaudfather]

Good article here on the Flames hot start!

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/584...conroy-lebrun/

Our season preview crew at The Athletic, for example, picked the Flames to finish 28th this season. And to be fair, that could obviously still happen.

But comeback wins on the road in Vancouver and Edmonton, which sandwiched a home win over Philadelphia, were an early-season message. Yes, they’re a team in transition, a team with obvious deficiencies, but the Flames also appear to be a tight-knit group with a gigantic chip on their shoulder.

“Oh, absolutely,” Flames general manager Craig Conroy told The Athletic on Monday. “You know, I talked to the guys before the season. ‘Hey, we’re in this together, I see where everyone is picking us and what they’re saying.’

“You know what it’s like when people say you can’t do something. ‘OK. We’ll show you.'”

But perhaps the best sight of all so far for Calgary? Jonathan Huberdeau has three goals and two assists in the opening three games and looks like a new man.

Huberdeau was better late last season, but the burden of that contract paying him $10.5 million per season often seemed too much to handle. It would be a wonderful story for the old Huberdeau to re-emerge this season.

“At the end of last year, he said, ‘Hey, I’m going to change up some things I’m going to do,'” Conroy said. “He’s talked to our strength coach (and) changed up how he trained in the summer.”

Flames head coach Ryan Huska went to meet with Huberdeau in Montreal this summer.

“They had a real good conversation,” said Conroy. “They talked about doing more, killing penalties, things like that. And he’s been on our penalty kill doing a great job.”

One key area Huska and Huberdreau talked about, Conroy added, was the work away from the puck.

“He’s working. He’s making plays. He’s going hard to the net,” Conroy said. “He’s going to the hard areas. And I think that was something him and the coaches had talked about.

“He wants to do well here. He puts a lot of pressure on himself. So it’s just good to see him go out there and play his game and have some success. Because he cares.”

“It’s three games, but they’ve played well, they’ve stuck up for each other, they’ve competed hard,” Conroy said. “And generally it’s a good feeling around the locker room.

[TheIronMaiden]

I'd love to see Honzek have a breakout game.

[Toonage]

We finally get to hear our new PBP guy tonight!

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I'd love to see Honzek have a breakout game.

Agreed, give the kid some confidence.

On side note do we really have a top six center in Pospisil ?

Considering the utter desolation at the position having pops and the costco kid have an impact on the team would be huge. On the short term anyway.

[Strange Brew]

I like Scorp's tweet on Suniev. Although he might be competing for Cy Young as well as the Hobey Baker with that stat line.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Agreed, give the kid some confidence.

On side note do we really have a top six center in Pospisil ?

Considering the utter desolation at the position having pops and the costco kid have an impact on the team would be huge. On the short term anyway.

I think he’s a solid middle 6 all-positions versatile forward. And that goes a long way. His style of play meshes well with any combo of players.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I think he’s a solid middle 6 all-positions versatile forward. And that goes a long way. His style of play meshes well with any combo of players.

That really seems to be the case. Doesn’t matter who you put him with its good. Credit to our scouting. Another later round gem.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Battle of the bottom feeders.

In Edmonton, this is the Flames game thread

[EN FUEGO]

I had my friend in CO put $100 on the Flames to win the cup for me....pays out at 15K if they win. I didn't expect this hot start, and I didn't expect to like this version of the team so much! Pospisil is gonna have a huge night tonight, 2G both set up by Hubie.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by dino7c

In Edmonton, this is the Flames game thread

Woosh

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

That's a lot of red on those defensive heat maps.

There's always going to be a lot of red. Important thing is to have the red as far away from the net as possible. The blue circle in front of the net is great.