[GDT] Flames vs Canucks - 8:00 - HNiC

[Rhettzky]

Hopefully the commentary isn't as bad as the last HNIC. Might set up the fan feed early just in case.

[Machiavelli]

News:

Injury blows centre's swagger

Talk about terrible timing for a player seemingly born again this season under head coach Bob Hartley.

"Obviously, it's disappointing, said general manager Jay Feaster.

"It's disappointing for him. He's frustrated. He had such a great start.

The challenge, for Backlund, is to stay positive through yet another wave of adversity.

"It's sad," Hartley said. "Backs has been working hard. He's been very good. He's a great young man. He's a great student of the game.

"We said everyone would start with a clean slate, and he took advantage of this. He gave us some big, timely goals ... but this is the unfortunate part of this business."

Flames defenceman has made substantial impact

"I love to watch you shoot the puck and keep shooting it," the general manager told the newest member of the Calgary defence corps. "We don't do it enough."

Wideman looked at his boss with a blank stare.

"You're kidding me," he asked. "With all these snipers here?"

Channelling the pain of long-suffering Flames fans, Feaster replied in the affirmative.

"I'm not kidding," the GM said. "In the past, our team would rather pass the puck into the goal than shoot the doggone thing into the net."

"He has that poise with the puck that kind of puts opponents to sleep," head coach Bob Hartley said Friday in the bowels of the Rogers Arena. "He makes the right decision. If he has the shot, he wants to shoot. If not, he always finds the open man.

"You cannot teach this. In hockey, we can teach lots of things. But decisions with the puck, to pick up the right guy who is open? This is very tough. I've coached very few defenceman who have the ability Dennis has."

Canucks-Flames: Inside Saturday's game

NOT SO SPECIAL: Yes, the Canucks are off to their best start in several seasons, but their special teams have been anything but. Vancouver’s power play has converted only 15.7 per cent of its chances and stands 22nd in the NHL. The Canucks’ penalty kill stands 20th, with an efficiency rate of 15.7 per cent and figures to be tested by a Calgary power play that is tied for sixth. The Flames’ penalty-kill has struggled and stands 28th.

HEATING UP: After an awful start, the Flames have recently been showing some signs of life. They have won two straight on the road and have played fewer games — eight — than any other NHL team. Alex Tanguay, Lee Stempniak and Curtis Glencross have four goals apiece. Mike Cammalleri, who missed Thursday’s game in Columbus with an undisclosed injury, has not yet scored.

Flames centre Backlund out a month, Street in

“But it’s still extremely exciting. You sort of think there will be all these people around to celebrate with — and it’s just a couple of people. It’s not all that glorious, but inside, it’s such an incredible feeling.

“It was just my fiance (Jessica) and I. We were eating dinner, and I heard the phone buzzing, and I was going to ignore it. But I thought, ‘I better check who that is.’ So it was just us two, looking at each other going, ‘Holy cow.’ ”

“The feeling was Streeter has earned the opportunity and let’s see what he can do,” Feaster said. “This isn’t me calling him and telling him to buy a place in Calgary. It’s truly an audition. It’s an opportunity to show that you belong here and you can contribute to the hockey club.”

[malcolmk14]

Yep, Wideman has been the biggest addition to this team. He gives us some stability on the back end that I don't think we have had since... well... a long time ago.

4-3 Flames in a nail-biter. Iginla with a hat trick.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

No Rick ball calling the game tonight. I believe we get Mark Lee again.

Baller said he gets a bunch in march and April.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Canucks destroy Irving but the good guys still come through! Flames in a Saturday nite thriller, bitchslapping the Canucks harder than a Keith Ballard trade~! 2-1 Flames!!!

How can the Flames survive Irving getting lit up for 1 goal though?

This will be a tough game for the Flames, although both teams are currently decimated by injuries up front so they are in the same boat. Flames lose 4-2 and fans are worried about Irving after the game.

[Domoic]

Everyone stop crying about injuries

Iginla
Tanguay
Hudler
Cerevenka
Glencross
Bouwmeester
Wideman
Gio

Enough to win

We got depth

Just go and do it

Eff the excuses

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Domoic

Everyone stop crying about injuries

Iginla
Tanguay
Hudler
Cerevenka
Glencross
Bouwmeester
Wideman
Gio

Enough to win

We got depth

Just go and do it

Eff the excuses

The only injury that i care about is Backlund. Flames have depth at wing and D. Flames don't have a good group of centers to begin with, losing Backlund hurts. Other than losing Kipper long term, losing a center was the worst thing that could happen to the flames. I would go as far to say that losing Backlund for 4-6 weeks is as bad if not worse than losing Iggy 4-6 weeks.

[Itse]

Some stats:

Flames:

• Record: 3-3-2
• Streak: Won 2
• Road: 2-0-1
• GF: 24 (3.00 per game)
• GA: 28 (3.50 per game)
• PP%: 26.5 (5th)
• PK%: 70.4 (28th)

Leaders:

• Points: Alex Tanguay (9 pts)
• Goals: Alex Tanguay, Curtis Glencross, Lee Stempniak (4 goals)
• Assists: Jarome Iginla, Alex Tanguay, Mike Cammalleri, Dennis Wideman, Jiri Hudler (5 assists)
• PIM: Alex Tanguay, Blair Jones, Jay Bouwmeester (6 min)
• ATOI: Dennis Wideman (25:06)
• ATOI, forwards: Jarome Iginla (21:25)
• +/-: TJ Brodie (+5)
• Hits: Tim Jackman (18)
• Blocked shots: Dennis Wideman (15)
• Takeaways: Mark Giordano (8)

Goalies:

• Leland Irving: SV% .914, GAA 2.22, 1-0-0 in 2 games
• Daniel Taylor: 0 games

Injuries:
Lance Bouma, Sven Baertchi, Mikael Backlund, Miikka Kiprusoff, Mike Cammalleri


Canucks:

• Record: 6-2-2
• Streak: Won 4
• Home: 3-1-1
• GF: 28 (2.80 per game)
• GA: 23 (2.30 per game)
• PP%: 15.7 (23rd)
• PK%: 76.7 (21st)

Leaders:

• Points: Daniel Sedin, Alexander Edler (8)
• Goals: Zack Kassian (5)
• Assists: Henrik Sedin (6)
• PIM: Kevin Bieksa (20)
• ATOI: Alexander Edler (23:38)
• ATOI, Forwards: Henrik Sedin (20:23)
• +/-: Henrik Sedin, Jannik Hansen (+5)
• Hits: Aaron Volpatti (30 hits)
• Blocked shots: Alexander Edler (22)
• Takeaways: Chris Higgins (10)

Goalies:

• Luongo: SV% .940, GAA 1.52, 3-0-2 in 6 games.
• Schneider: SV% .908 GAA 2.66, 3-2-0 in 5 games

Injuries:
David Booth, Ryan Kesler

[calgaryboy]

Voted for bo loss, because i am always wrong :-)
Hope for a win, GO FLAMES GO!

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by Domoic

Everyone stop crying about injuries

Iginla
Tanguay
Hudler
Cerevenka
Glencross
Bouwmeester
Wideman
Gio

Enough to win

We got depth

Just go and do it

Eff the excuses

Thank you for saying this! Everybody thinks this is the same team that played here for the last three years. This is not true, we have scoring depth. Our off season additions make us a formidable opponent on any given night. Have some GD confidence in the guys. I am calling that Bieksa gets made a fool somehow tonight.

Flames win

[TurnedTheCorner]

Oh ####, it's Hockey Day? CBC will be laying it on extra thick and be even more unbearable today. Might just listen on the radio.

[djsFlames]

If they can shut down the Sedins LIKE last game, then we will win.

I think despite our injuries, if our forward group works hard to drive possession through stretches in the game, then our d-men who are feeling it offensively now will be able to contribute from the blue line. For once I feel like even if our top 6 struggles to put many in, Wideman Jbo and Brodie can step in and provide some offense. If Street keeps up with the Czechs then sure keep him there, but if not then we need to bump Stajan up there. If they can get Schneidwhore off his game early, then by all means, open the flood gates. But if everybody works well as a team and supports Irving, we can maybe squeak out a close one.

[kermitology]

Can't help but think that the Canucks PP gets a big boost and eats the Flames alive.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

If they can get Schneidwhore off his game early...

Umm?

Prediction: Canucks 4-2. Last one an empty netter. Sorry, my gut feeling.

[Rejean31]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

No Rick ball calling the game tonight. I believe we get Mark Lee again.

Baller said he gets a bunch in march and April.

Lee is calling the Oiler/Wings game at noon.

[Dion]

Ben Street scores the winning goal in OT. Flames win 4-3

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Itse

Some stats:


Leaders:

• Points: Alex Tanguay (9 pts)
• Goals: Alex Tanguay, Curtis Glencross, Lee Stempniak (4 goals)
• Assists: Jarome Iginla, Alex Tanguay, Mike Cammalleri, Dennis Wideman, Jiri Hudler (5 assists)
• PIM: Alex Tanguay, Blair Jones, Jay Bouwmeester (6 min)
• ATOI: Dennis Wideman (25:06)
• ATOI, forwards: Jarome Iginla (21:25)
• +/-: TJ Brodie (+5)
• Hits: Tim Jackman (18)
• Blocked shots: Dennis Wideman (15)
• Takeaways: Mark Giordano (8)

What a start for Tanguay, even if he falls back to the 50/82 guy he'll still end up with close to 40 points this year. Guy just belongs in Calgary I guess.

Can't believe the low penalty minute totals, that plays well going into Vancouver with a backup goaltender in net. Better to get into a good skating puck possession five on five game and take their chances

Brodie at +5, wild that he started the season a healthy scratch. Love watching this guy develop.

Giordano with a good take count, interesting as we all see him not playing well yet.

I wonder with Backlund out long term, Baertschi will get a look with the Czecks when he comes back. Still have to assume the plan is to move Cervenka to center.

[TheMagicMan]

Anyone know who is on After Hours tonight?

[Bourque's Twin]

If the Flames can pull this one off then this is a very special team.
All I ask for is as good of an effort as possible.

We need a big game from our top line, especially Iggy.

[Flash Walken]

Mark lee and Greg millen doing the game in Detroit, does that mean Rick ball tonight?