Flames Game Day: Took this trip to Garden Grove...

by Robert Cleave on Nov 23, 2009 1:15 PM PST Comment 20 comments

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Calgary Flames vs. Anaheim Ducks

Honda Center

8 PM MT

Opposition: Anaheim Calling

TV : Sportsnet West

With a well-earned two points in the hopper after beating L.A. 5-2, the Flames head down the road to Anaheim for this evening's encounter with the Ducks. In recent seasons, this would be the sort of game that would be very hard for Calgary to win, largely because the Ducks were a better team than the Flames, and certainly were superior from the early winter of '06 through the spring of '08.

That's not quite the case anymore, and with a strong third period against the Kings in the books, the Flames have a chance to turn a bit of the recent history.

Jarome Iginla was pretty efficient on Saturday. 4 SOG, 8 attempted shots overall, 3 goals. Got another 80 to 85 games like that your back pocket, chief? He and Jokinen have been under scrutiny around these parts, and I think the chances +/- that Kent posted yesterday are at the heart of that scrutiny. With that stated, if we're going to take the "baby steps" approach, the fact that they took advantage when Sutter got them a good match, and that they were + Corsi and EV scoring chances can be considered good underlying signs. Olli Jokinen might even score a few goals someday, right? Oh, yeah, baby steps.

Daymond Langkow's line held there own against the Stoll-Brown duo, and the goal he worked SH with Glencross was quality. David Moss isn't the skater that Bourque is, so the style the line plays might differ a bit, but they'll still have to face some sort of top six opposition tonight. Moss looks to me like whatever nick he had might yet be affecting him, but the play he exhibited Saturday was better, or at least closer to what the team would like to see. The Flames need him to be productive with or without Bourque around, but obviously that need is a bit more acute with 17 on the shelf.

Curtis Glencross must have exceptional hearing, because it was no time at all between his getting a scolding in the game day thread and his excellent pass to Langkow that lead to the winning goal. With that in mind, "dammit GlenX, get it together!" I mean, no point in waiting until things get out of hand ;-) He and his linemates had themselves a pretty nice game, and the team as a whole were terrific in the third. When the Flames went up 3-2, they kept dominating the game, rather than allowing the Kings to come at them. 10-2 EV shots in the third on the road against a decent team is solid, whether Smyth and Scuderi played or not.

No changes to the blue, but Phaneuf and Regehr were among the few Flames that seemed to have a tough afternoon Saturday. If the duo struggled against Frolov-Kopitar-Williams, that's not really a good omen for any potential match-up with Getzlaf and Perry.

There's been some grunting that the Flames are undecided over who gets the start in net, but if it isn't Kipper, I'd be a bit surprised. The team didn't abandon him on the PK Saturday, and he repaid them with a good game. Funny, isn't it?

The opposition has gotten off to a struggling start, with the first line lighting people up but not much else going on. The Ducks rolled these first three lines in their 06/07 run to the Cup:

Kunitz-McDonald-Selanne

Penner-Getzlaf-Perry

Niedermayer-Pahlsson-Moen

and backed them up with Niedermayer the greater, Chris Pronger and Frenchy Beauchemin.

Now?

Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry

Artyukin-Koivu-Selanne

Calder-Marchant-Nokelainen

with Niedermayer and Whitney/Wisniewski as the main guys on the back end. Those aren't equal, at least not to my eye, and the bleeding of players might have caught up with the Ducks. That first group is still a menace, and my second favourite Jet (number one is Gabe Desjardins' interweb handle) remains a threat on the PP. After those guys, there isn't much happening. Unlike last season, Hiller has just been OK rather than off-the-planet good behind them, and Giguere, for reasons on and off ice, has been poor since 07/08.

The Flames haven't won in Anaheim since before the lock-out, and busting that skein will require another good PK night, as well as minimizing the Getzlaf line as best they can. The Flames should have an edge in depth, so good special teams and breaking even vs. the Getzlaf crew will likely be the way to a win.

Game time is 8 MT, with coverage on Sportsnet West.

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Game line tonight is nearly dead even. Considering the Ducks are at home, that’s a good thing I would say.

by R O on Nov 23, 2009 1:27 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Sweet fuck, look at what the FAN just reported: Sjostrom out, McG in.

Why?? I mean, why??? McGrattan sucks by just about every measure, he soaks up precious seconds of sheltered ice time, and someone has to pick up for the extra 7 or so minutes that he won’t be playing that Freddie would’ve. And it’s not all sweet ice time either, Sjostrom is out there for his share of D-zone draws. Not to mention the non trivial PK role that Sjostrom fills.

by R O on Nov 23, 2009 1:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Pavlov’s dog, R O. Parros is in the lineup, and Sutter reacts.

Matchsticks and Gasoline

by Robert Cleave on Nov 23, 2009 1:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And every game I’ve gone to in Anaheim has had at least one fight – it’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Or, Sutter was watching the video from the Niedermeyer-stick incident Friday night and is worried about that fan that was throwing haymakers. I know that I won’t go anywhere near a stick at the game tonight, and if a puck comes my way from the ice (or a t-shirt from one of those stupid cannons), I’ll make sure to let someone else get it!

by maimster on Nov 23, 2009 1:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, let’s at least hope the tilt is entertaining. Tbh it’s even more fascinating (in a morbid trainwreck sense) to see Prust get destroyed in his fights.

by R O on Nov 23, 2009 1:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And generally I remain quiet on the issue when McG draws in over Prust. Because I find the difference between both to be small enough that I just don’t care. Prust is better, no doubt, but that extra three minutes he plays over McG is servicably filled in by Iggy double-shifting, or what have you.

But Sjostrom is useful, and he fills a PK role that is now even more important with Bourque out. That chaps my ass.

by R O on Nov 23, 2009 1:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

i would presume that means freddan’s not feelin’ so great. i think he’s a step up from prusty and i’m pretty sure brent knows it (icetime would indicate this)….. if mcG’s drawing in and prust is staying on, then i’m guessing that #11 might be not be just a healthy scratch.

by walkinvisible on Nov 23, 2009 3:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

uh… i see parallex said the same thing below.

by walkinvisible on Nov 23, 2009 3:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You’ve convinced me. And I’ve calmed down a bit too – the odds of this decision costing us anything anywhere near a standings point is miniscule.

by R O on Nov 23, 2009 3:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I should say “incident” instead of “decision” since a Sjostrom injury leaves Sutter’s hands tied.

by R O on Nov 23, 2009 3:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Someone has to dance with George Par…..and I see Robert has the same answer.

I just…hate having useless enforcers on the roster. I’m sure their nice guys and well liked and brave etc…but they don’t make any damn sense anymore.

Matchsticks and Gasoline
Fivehole fanatics

by Kent Wilson on Nov 23, 2009 1:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

… damnit Sutter!

Maybe Sjostrom is hurt. Seriously if Freddie Sjostrom can so easily be replaced by Brian Frakkin’ McGrattan why was he given time on the Iginla line? Wait… maybe he’s being traded? GM’s do that don’t they? Not play a guy while a deal is being made so that he doesn’t get hurt. Right?

Gotta be one of those two… no way can someone legit think that the ideal is to cut Sjostrom outta the lineup instead of Prust.

by Parallex on Nov 23, 2009 2:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know. After a decent start, Sjostrom has really tailed off into the sort of 4th liner I expected him to be. Is he better than McG? Sure, but he’s the type of player that will fall prey to this sort of benching now and then.

Matchsticks and Gasoline
Fivehole fanatics

by Kent Wilson on Nov 23, 2009 2:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed but prust has been getting about 1/2 of the icetime (/- 4:00) of sjöström (/- 8:00). i would think injury, here.

by walkinvisible on Nov 23, 2009 3:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

*they’re

Matchsticks and Gasoline
Fivehole fanatics

by Kent Wilson on Nov 23, 2009 1:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Ducks top 9

Is Lupul hurt, Robert? Busted down to the 4-line? (Traded again?)

by MattF on Nov 23, 2009 1:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Hurt, I think, Matt. I’ll try to find the link.

Matchsticks and Gasoline

by Robert Cleave on Nov 23, 2009 2:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I believe he’s hurt currently.

Matchsticks and Gasoline
Fivehole fanatics

by Kent Wilson on Nov 23, 2009 2:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Link from the Orange County Register. Back spasms, questionable for tonight. Not that good either, of course, but that’s another matter.

Matchsticks and Gasoline

by Robert Cleave on Nov 23, 2009 2:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

getzlaf smiled at our sign, “flames fans prefer the real Getzlaf (Chris), go riders – and flames”…sorry in advance if we awoke the giant!

by maimster on Nov 23, 2009 6:53 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

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