[GDT] Flames @ Canadiens, 5:30 PM MST. Sportsnet West, Fan 960

[Puppet Guy]

Another Original Six match up for the Flames. They deserved better last night, but the boys move forward as they roll into Montreal tonight.

a little game day news, courtesy of www.calgarysun.com

The Flames face the Canadiens for the first time this 2017-18 campaign. And it won’t be long until they see each other again, with a Dec. 22 clash set for the Scotiabank Saddledome. Last season, the Flames were dumped 5-1 on Jan. 24, the game that sparked the infamous train ride and ignited a 10-game winning streak. The next meeting on March 9? A 5-0 Flames win.

The Canadiens won five straight before a 4-3 loss to the visiting St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. The Blues received goals from Scottie Upshall and Brayden Schenn in a span of seven seconds in the second period. It had marked the 10th time the Canadiens had allowed a pair of markers within a minute.

The Canadiens No. 1 centre Jonathan Drouin did not practise with the Canadiens on Wednesday, but it seems like he could return for Thursday’s game against the Flames. The 22-year-old has been sidelined with a lower-body injury since Nov. 29 and has missed the last three games. Canadiens head coach Claude Julien said after practice that Drouin is probably healed enough to play Thursday, but the illness could sideline him.

The health of Jaromir Jagr is in question — again. The 45-year-old is day-to-day with a nagging lower-body injury, missing Wednesday’s game in Toronto. In his place on the third line against the Maple Leafs was recent call-up Garnet Hathaway, who played with Mark Jankowski and Sam Bennett. Jagr, the future hall-of-famer and living legend, has one goal and six assists in 17 games.

Following Thursday’s game, the Flames return home to host the Vancouver Canucks (8 p.m., CBC/Sportsnet 960 The Fan) before a quick trip to The State of Hockey to face the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 12. That’s the start of a stretch that sees the Flames play four games in six nights, including two one-off road trips.

Lineups, courtesy of www.dailyfaceoff.com. Unconfirmed, based on last night and pending Tkachuk's hearing

FLAMES

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

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Hamonic
Kulak - Stone

Smith (unconfirmed)

CANADIENS

Pacioretty - Danault - Shaw
Hudon - Plekanec -Gallagher
Galchenyuk - de la Rose - Byron
Deslauriers - Froese - Carr

Benn - Weber
Alzner - Petry
Mete - Schlemko

Price (unconfirmed)

...as is well known in the hockey world, Bell Centre crowds can get noisy and musical. Our Hero tells 'em (en anglais) to Ole-Ole THIS!:

Spoiler!

Go Flames

[Toonage]

I'm hoping momentum carries over to this one, regardless of line up changes.

Flames win it 3-2

Goals from Backlund, Hamilton & Gaudreau

[Benched]

5-2 Flames. Solid game. Montreal comes back down to earth a bit.

[bubbsy]

IF the flames can carry their strong defensive play from last night over to tonight, no reason why they can't come out with point(s).

I also think giving Smith the night off is the right decision. Having him rested for a big divisional/standings impacting game for Saturday is more important than the 2 points on the road vs an eastern team.

gfg

[fire_starter]

I'll be there!

GFG!!

[I_H8_Crawford]

12-0 Habs

[tvp2003]

I'm hoping Rittich has shown enough in practice that the coaches have the confidence to put him in tonight. Three games in four nights and I'd rather have Smith rested for Saturday's divisional game against Vancouver.

[kukkudo]

Flames proved me wrong yesterday, they came out and played a good game. Flames win 3-2.

[yourbestfriend]

If we put the same effort in as we did last night, no reason why we can't win this one.
3rd line is looking real good with Hathaway on it.

[sureLoss]

Calgary Flames @NHLFlames
Coach Glen Gulutzan says David Rittich will get the start between the pipes tonight against Canadiens.

Jagr gametime decision.

Tkachuk awaits word from Player Safety.

[Joborule]

This team needs to finish. It seems that's been there downfall in games they've should've won when it comes to advance stats.

Get the puck in the net, play D the same way as last night, and they have a strong chance of winning the game.

[habernac]

I don't know which Habs team will show up. I missed the Blues game, but the two goals in less than 10 seconds looked like a regression to early season form from the "Carey Price finally looks like Carey Price" winning streak they were on.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

12-0 Habs

Thank you, I have been hoping you would bring that back.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Hopefully they carry their strong play from yesterday into this game, and get on a really nice roll here. I really liked how after that Leaf goal yesterday, the Flames didn't implode and get all rattled, but continued to push the pace and stick with playing sound defensively. If they can keep doing that, this season will not only turn around, but I would expect a decent playoff run. Just hope that last night's game carries over tonight, and the Flames manage to get some better scoring chances.

[Looch City]

10-1 Habs.

[Locke]

The wonder that I have is what will it take for this team to prove they've ironed everything out. The past week has been an unmitigated disaster but last night was okay.

But I'm not convinced. This team goes from playing well to complete crap at the drop of a hat.

I dont know what it'll take.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Locke

The wonder that I have is what will it take for this team to prove they've ironed everything out. The past week has been an unmitigated disaster but last night was okay.

But I'm not convinced. This team goes from playing well to complete crap at the drop of a hat.

I dont know what it'll take.

That's easy for me. Another night where the defense looks good, and keeps the bonehead giveaways as close to zero as possible (yesterday they had 1, and it ended up in their net).

And another night after that, and maybe another after that. I will feel much better when they are consistently a strong defensive team and a defensive giveaway/brainfart is a rare exception.

The entire season has been the opposite of that, and if Smith wasn't in God mode (like in Oct) or if the top line wasn't scoring multiple goals every night (like in Nov), this team would be bottom 3.

[N-E-B]

Let's win. Winning is more fun.

[Savvy27]

2-1 Flames

Bennett and Ferland with the goals.
Brodie and Hamonic with their best games of the season.
Rittich with a statement game.

Go Flames Go!

[ssjshmo]

Go Flams go!
2 huge points!