[GDT] Flames @ Capitals, 5:00 MDT. Sportsnet West, Fan 960

[Puppet Guy]

The Flames Express pulls into DC tonight for a tilt with the Capitals. Saturday's game started with some choppy rails, but the OT victory made for smooth travellin'.


Some Caps news (www.dcpuckdrop.com)

The Washington Capitals (11-9-1) erased the memories of two ugly road games with a fine display at home against the Minnesota Wild (9-8-2) – a team that came into town riding a four-game winning streak.

The Capitals out-shot the Wild 43-31, out-hit them 29-16 and – most importantly won the game 3-1. The top-six forwards, who had struggled of late, produced the goods and combined for 20 shots, two goals and four assists. Defenseman Matt Niskanen scored an assist and had five shots, while the much-improved Dmitry Orlov tallied his second goal of the season. And, of course, Braden Holtby rock-solid in goal with 30 saves.

However, there was a scary moment halfway through the second period when Alex Ovechkin took a puck to the mouth from close range. Bleeding profusely from his upper lip, Ovechkin left the ice in a hurry. However, a few stitches later, he was back on the ice and played a big role in his team’s win.

T.J. Oshie started the scoring halfway through the first period, assisted by Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov during a Capitals power play. It was Oshie’s 10th goal of the season. A few minutes later, Minnesota pulled one back when Nino Niederreiter scored his own power-goal. Only 44 seconds later, Orlov’s scored with a nice snapshot from near the blue line to put the Caps up 2-1; Niskanen and Oshie assisted. There were no more goals until 17:23 into the third when Kuznetsov slotted home during another power play for his fifth goal of the season. Ovechkin supplied a sublime pass for the assist with John Carlson getting the other helper.

It was a huge two points for Washington as the Metropolitan Division is extremely tight so far this season with only five points separating the top team from the bottom team. The Capitals’ 23 points puts them in fifth place but only three points below the three teams at the top (Blue Jackets, Devils and Penguins).

Some Flames news: (www.calgaryflames.com)

Sean Monahan is coming off one of the best games of his career thanks to his second period hat trick in Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon. Monahan's first career hat trick now has him at 118 goals in 338 career games. All three of the 23-year-old's goals came on the powerplay, making him the first player in Calgary's history to net three goals with the man advantage in one period. Claude St. Sauveur is the only other player in franchise history to do so, posting his three powerplay goals with the Atlanta Flames on Dec. 19, 1975 against the New York Rangers.

Johnny Gaudreau heads into this evening's match-up on a nine-game point streak, with seven goals and 17 points during that stretch. During that span, he has six multi-point games and is riding a four-game streak with two or more points. The Flames are 8-1-0 when Gaudreau has two or more points in a game this year.


The Flames have been perfect in extra time this season, going 5-0. That run carries over from last year's tremendous play in the extra frame/shootout - in 2016-17 they were 13-4 in extra time.

Lineups (www.dailyfaceoff.com. Unconfirmed, subject to change/shuffle)

FLAMES

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Bennett-Jankowski-Jagr
Versteeg-Lazar-Brouwer

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Hamonic
Kulak-Stone

Smith (unconfirmed)

CAPITALS

Stephenson-Backstrom-Oshie
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Smith-Pelly
Vrana-Eller-Wilson
Connolly-Beagle-Chiasson

Orpik-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Chorney-Bowey

Holtby (unconfirmed)


The train trip from Philly appears to be a success with all. Wanting to keep the good times rolling, Our Hero is taking the Crazy Train for a spin of his own:

Spoiler!

Go Flames

[shotinthebacklund]

Have been looking forward to this since the final buzzer on Saturdays game.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

What I'm getting from that Caps write up is that their power play is hot.

Message to the Flames...do NOT take any penalties today. Zero, nada, zilch. Our PK is so terrible lately that the Caps PP will have automatic goals if they get the chance.

5 on 5, the Flames can skate with them, as they showed earlier in the year.

Don't. Take. Penalties.



Also, I'm glad to see Scorch looking so happy! Mr. Puppet must be showing him a good time.

[J79]

Start times for Flames fans all over the world

[Cali Panthers Fan]

^ I really like this new feature J79! Keep it up!

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Also, I'm glad to see Scorch looking so happy! Mr. Puppet must be showing him a good time.

Scorch looks like a dog taking a rip down the highway. I guess a cart full of liquor and a train ride make for good bonding:

Spoiler!

[Moneyhands23]

Im going with the "if you cant post anything positive dont post anything at all" in the game thread tonight.

Saying that I hope to be able to post a bunch tonight!

[Backlunds_socks]

Flames win 10-1

[Wisers]

I still don’t understand how Lazar and Brouwer warrant spots on this team.
There has to be better choices. Neither belong in this lineup.

[Backlunds_socks]

Originally Posted by Wisers

I still don’t understand how Lazar and Brouwer warrant spots on this team.
There has to be better choices. Neither belong in this lineup.

I thought Brouwer's been great thus far this season.

[Wyguy]

Originally Posted by Backlunds_socks

I thought Brouwer's been great thus far this season.

We aren't watching the same player then

[Greybeard]

Though I would not call Brouwer great this year I would say that he has been solid and deserves 4th line ice. Not worth his salary but I would sit Lazar and Stajan before him. Would like to sit Lazar and give Mangiapane a go.

[GioforPM]

I wouldn't say Brouwer has been great, but he's been pretty good in a fourth line, PK role. The PK has sucked but aside from Gio, Brouwer might be the most effective guy at getting the puck out. He also has done a better job at standing up for teammates when he's on the ice.

I didn't even think he was out of place with Backlund and Frolik last game, and that was not on his normal side. Of course, those guys are maybe the easiest to play with on the team.

ETA: I was wrong about Brouwer playing off wing - Frolik played off wing for that game. But the rest stands.

[_Q_]

Will probably be taking my 7 month old son to his first hockey game tonight!

Go Flames Go!

[gunnner]

Originally Posted by J79

Start times for Flames fans all over the world

You stay up and watch the games or catch the replay the next day like i do?

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I wouldn't say Brouwer has been great, but he's been pretty good in a fourth line, PK role. The PK has sucked but aside from Gio, Brouwer might be the most effective guy at getting the puck out. He also has done a better job at standing up for teammates when he's on the ice.

I didn't even think he was out of place with Backlund and Frolik last game, and that was not on his normal side. Of course, those guys are maybe the easiest to play with on the team.

The PK has sucked in a few games and those games drag the entire % down. The majority of the goals have come in 6 games (14 of the 20 goals allowed). Their record is 10-3 outside those games (with a PK of 88%). As a % it is bad, but on a whole it has been okay.

[metal_geek]

Originally Posted by J79

Start times for Flames fans all over the world

Where’s the obligatory 12:00, 12:30 in Newfoundland?

minus that one shortfall, I’m digging posts.

[Flamesguy_SJ]

The Flames trip East always makes me so happy...I love not having to stay up until the wee hours to watch them play.

[---Hatrick---]

Go flames go!

[mennoknight]

I love eastern road trips!