Game 23 Preview: Rawr

The Flames come into this game amid as much speculation that has ever existed around the current iteration of the team. Ranging from personaell to management, it appears no one is safe from the internet rumour mill.

I'd just like to take this opportunity to say that all speculation is stupid at all times.

Scott Hannan and Alex Tanguay will be good to go for tonight. As I suspected, the reasons they didn't return were more precautionary then anything. Obviously, that's very good news on both counts. It's the first game back for the Flames after that rather sub-par roadie.

The Predators are on a second game of a back to back tonight, coming out of Edmonton with a 2-1 victory yesterday evening. The Preds are 4-4-2 in their last 10, which is throughly mediocre and not indicative of the team's true talent level. Wünderkind Craig Smith leads the team with 17 points, but both Shea Weber and Ryan Suter are close behind with 16. Niclas Bergfors was lost on the waiver wire a couple of days back.

Players to Watch

Rene Bourque-If only so you can see his career spiral even further down the drain.

David Legwand-This year, Nashville's excellent tough minutes centreman is putting up some points too-15 on the season.

Lastly...

Expect this game to basically be a carbon copy of the earlier contest this season between these two teams.