Kristen Anderson @KdotAnderson
Seems like the lines are in a blender today. Might look like this (Jankowski was one of the last ones off the ice and Versteeg/Tkachuk are definite no-gos for tonight):
Loubardias harping on about how dangerous McDavid is and how teams gotta do this, this and that to defend against him. This is the kind of talk I hope CGY players aren't doing.
Stop putting it in your mind how tough it is defend the guy. That's how you let someone get in your head. Is he a great player? Yea, no ####.
Know when he's on the ice and stick to your structure. That's all you say about it. Focus on your game, being on your toes and ready to attack.
Play with confidence, play with skill and get after it.
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Looking at the flames lineup... despite not knowing half the guys onthe oilers. I would still say they might be close to us in terms of overall skill in the forward group tonight. And they are terribly unskilled except for one player.
Hope that bottom six only sees the ice to incite line brawls and then goes back to the bench
Jankowski playing better could go a long way towards making the playoffs but I don't agree with sitting him out in such a critical game. He played well against Buffalo and then his ice time was cut against Ottawa and the Isles. I see a young player in whom the coach has lost confidence. Maybe it sparks something but little I've seen from GG suggests he is good at motivating his players. And if they lose tonight it will be too late anyway if Janko goes on a tear afterwards. More likely he'll leave him out.
Janko has been pretty meh lately. The Flames NEED Janko to not be meh down the stretch.
This isn't going to be a popular opinion but compared to some of the other games coming up this game isn't as important. Anaheim, SJ and LA - those are MUST WIN games. Tonight is just a pretty-damn-important win. If sitting Janko and letting him watch from the press box gets him going down the stretch, it's for the greater good.
Add that to the fact that they've played terrible at home, are slumping, can't beat the Oilers and they lost Tkachuk this game is as close to a throw away game you can have. (Which isn't very close because this team can't actually afford to throw away games anymore)
That said, the Oilers suck so if the Flames don't beat themselves there is no reason they can't win handily tonight.
GG doing his best to ensure he goes 0-8 vs the Oilers. If this is a loss just fire him on the spot, save the man the misery of going 0-9 to the Oilers. Our bottom 2 lines are awful, as bad as the Oilers this game. If the top line is not firing tonight this will be an L.
I think we are already 0-8 against the Oilers, I think the Oilers are aiming for their 9th straight win against us tonight. Pretty sure Glen has never ever beat the Edmonton Oilers.
I think Glen would be the only the second Flames coach (Don Hay being the first) to never ever beat the Edmonton Oilers. Even Guy Charron beat the Edmonton Oilers.
No. We are 0-7 against them the past 2 years. I know because stupid Gulutzan has cost me $700 in bets against stupid Oiler fans.
You and me both. I always had a feeling heading into this final stretch that they would lose that game to the Isles. Did I think it would be because of two deflected goals in the first minute, no, but still expected. They run the table starting tonight, they beat California/Pacific div teams and they could be on the plus side.
I think that 3rd line will actually be the 4th line. It would surprise me if they get more ice time than the Brouwer-Stajan-Lazar line. Not that it matters, I would think that unless the Flames get a decent lead it will be a shortened bench.
I think that 3rd line will actually be the 4th line. It would surprise me if they get more ice time than the Brouwer-Stajan-Lazar line. Not that it matters, I would think that unless the Flames get a decent lead it will be a shortened bench.
Was just going to say the same. That 4th line has had some jump lately, Lazar has looked like the fastest player on the ice at times. I'm thinking they're going to get a bump in minutes while the Shore line will be around the 8-10mins mark.
Fine with the lineup. Glad Stewart and Shore are in and without Tkachuk, fine with Hathaway. This will be chippy and mean, and considering the stunts pulled last time, just fine with Jankowski sitting. That's what the depth at the deadline is for, may as well use it.
Versteeg back I am guessing Friday.
Just win.
Otherwise GG can leave town after the game tonight.
I have a feeling Talbot is going to be a hot goalie tonight. It just seems that way that all the other goalies seem to play well against the Flames lately, except for the Sabres and Sens, that is.
