[GDT] Flames @ Hurricanes, 1:00 PM MST. Sportsnet West, Fan 960

[Puppet Guy]

Let the good times roll! We've had some fun viewing watching the Flames go streaking. Six in a row is fantastic, but the Flames look to make it seven today as they roll into Raleigh for a date with the Hurricanes.

not a lot of game-day news out there so far, so we get some bits and bites:

(www.matchsticksandgasoline.com)

The Hurricanes comes into today having dropped 5 out of their last 7, but the Flames shouldn’t take this team lightly. The Hurricanes, prior to this lull, had won 4 straight and put themselves back into the playoff hunt. Carolina is only 1 point out of the 8th and final WC spot in the East as they head into the break. Cam Ward is 5-3-1 over his last 9 and has been handling the bulk of the load for the Hurricanes with Scott Darling getting only 2 starts in Carolina’s last 10 games.

This is the final regular season game between these 2 with Carolina winning the first meeting back on October 19th, 2-1. The Flames were a giveaway machine in that contest, turning the puck over 13 times, but they killed 5 of the 6 penalties they took in the game. The Flames are 3-6-1 in their last 10 visits to the Tarheel State.

(www.calgaryflames.com)

Carolina will be without defenseman Brett Pesce (upper body), who was placed on injured reserve on Friday. The Hurricanes played without forwards Derek Ryan (upper body), Elias Lindholm (illness) and Joakim Nordstrom (illness) in a 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Friday. Each will be a game-time decision Sunday.

Forward Lee Stempniak had an assist Friday in his season debut for the Hurricanes, who have lost three of their past four (1-3-0).

lineups (www.dailyfaceoff.com)

FLAMES

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Brouwer
Bennett - Jankowski - Hathaway
Lazar - Stajan - Mangiapane

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Hamonic
Kulak - Stone

Smith (unconfirmed)

HURRICANES

Aho - Jordan Staal - Teravainen
McGinn - Rask - Williams
Skinner - Wallmark - Stempniak
Di Giuseppe - Kruger - Jooris

Slavin - Faulk
Hanifin - van Riemsdyk
Dahlbeck - Fleury

Ward (unconfirmed)

Revisiting a previous theme - The Carolinas have a historical relationship with the infamous pirates of the past. This afternoon, That Darn Puppet - aka Felt-face the Furious - has plans to send the 'Canes to Davy Jones' Locker:

Spoiler!

Go Flames

[Northendzone]

Crucial game for sure. Stanley cup finals preview.

Go flames go

[Five-hole]

We can pass the Kings for 2nd in the division with a win. Whodathunk that two weeks ago?

[sureLoss]

Last game of a road trip and afternoon game on the east coast before the bye week = TRAP.

Way too easy to not be mental prepared for this game.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Last game of a road trip and afternoon game on the east coast before the bye week = TRAP.

Way too easy to not be mental prepared for this game.

...and riding a six game win streak. This game has stinker written all over it.

Somehow though I think the Flames come away with a win this aft.

GFG

[foshizzle11]

sureLoss I really hope you are wrong!

I think the Flames will come knowing what is at stake and have a bit of a bounce back game since that game in Florida was a bit sloppy.

3-1 Flames, Bennett, Gaudreau and Giordano score for the win.

GfG.

[FBI]

Where's little scorch, puppet?

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by puppet guy

flames

gaudreau - monahan - ferland
tkachuk - backlund - brouwer
bennett - jankowski - hathaway
lazar - stajan - mangiapane

giordano - hamilton
brodie - hamonic
kulak - stone

smith (unconfirmed)

win!

[UK flame]

And also one of the few games European fans don't have to be nocturnal to watch!

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by FBI

Where's little scorch, puppet?

he's on the other side of the deck, keelhauling Stormy the Pig.

...actually, that would've been a better visual.

[Rick M.]

Odland quotes Backlund as saying that the Flames have been outshot this entire road trip. I don’t like the sound of that.

[codynw]

Afternoon games suck.

[bubbsy]

I think this one will be a bit of a low quality hockey game.... Afternoon game, right before the bye and all.

Getting points would be pure gravy from my perspective. 2 points would be huge in the standings though.

[Heavy Jack]

I think this group knows just how big it would be to come out of this one with 2 pts and a 7 game winning streak. We got this !

[Enoch Root]

I know it won't happen, but if I were the coach, I would actually look to throw Lomberg into this game. Here's why:

End of a long road trip, and an afternoon game on the east coast. Total trap game, and very difficult to get the legs going and get motivated.

Lomberg is an energy bunny always. But as a first NHL game, he would be a Tasmanian Devil. And presumably, that would bring energy to the bench.

I know he hasn't practiced with the team yet, but 4th line energy duties are not rocket surgery. Just go play, and hit anything that moves.

Who would he take out of the lineup? Even though he has been playing really well lately, I would give Stajan the day off. Just tell him he gets an extended break and the coach wants to inject energy for this one game.

Mangiapane - Lomberg - Lazar

that would be hilarious to watch for one game, and could provide the kind of spark that could carry them through this game.

[Gaskal]

Would Lomberg even arrive to the rink in time? It's a 1pm game. But I'd throw him in too otherwise why even bother doing the move the game before the bye week.

I find myself falling dangerously into the habit of expecting 2pts. Even when we're being outshot and outplayed we're finding ways to claw through with the W. And it might happen again since the Canes are a pretty solid possession team. They've just had really inconsistent goaltending and some players disappear for long stretches.

Sounds like Lindholm and Nordstrom are back in for Di Giuseppe and Jooris after sitting out to illness. Darling gets the start.

[scotty2hotty]

This would have been the perfect game to pop one or both of Hrivik / Lomberg in for Stajan / Lazar.

We often need the extra infused energy for these afternoon starts.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Odland quotes Backlund as saying that the Flames have been outshot this entire road trip. I don’t like the sound of that.

It is true, but here is what people are missing:

· Minnesota is one of only five teams in the NHL to have lost less than five games on home ice.
· TB is another of this select group, and they also happen to be the best team in the NHL.
· Florida is the number one team in then League in shots/game.

So, it should come as no surprise that the Flames have been on the wrong side of the shot count for the past few games, considering the opposition. I don't believe this is a trend, or the start of a slippage in defensive coverage. The Flames have played three great games on the road in three very tough buildings and have come away with wins.

[bigrangy]

Usually you stop playing good hockey sometime before your win streak ends. Last 2 games haven't been great performances by the the Flames skaters, each goalie bailed them out.

Not expecting a win but the Flames definitely have enough talent to pull this one off. It will feel a lot better going into the break on a high note.

[CampbellsTransgressions]

Hopefully Mangiapane can put one on the scoresheet!