Flames at Avalanche Game Thread: Total Recall

Sporting a four game losing streak, the Flames limp into Denver tonight to take on the Avs in what has been dubbed “The Battle for the Basement.” Colorado is one point behind the Flames for 15th place in the Western conference, and with a loss tonight, Calgary could become the sole possessor of last place IN THE ENTIRE LEAGUE. Good grief. Also, the last time the Flames played the Avalanche we were robbed of Jarome Iginla’s last game as a Flame. Just in case you didn’t already have a reason to drink on a Monday night, you’re welcome.

Anyway, the Flames continue to use the remainder of this shortened season to showcase some of their young hopefuls in a desperate attempt to show fans that there’s something worth sticking around for on this team. With Jiri Hudler out with an upper-body injury, Jay Feaster recalled top prospect Sven Baertschi from the Abbotsford Heat yesterday on an emergency basis. Curtis Glencross is expected to return to the lineup tonight after missing Saturday’s contest with a leg injury, and the Flames have already used three of their four allotted call-ups after the trade deadline, so they’ll have to hope that the team can play out their remaining games without many more injuries. Brett Carson is still with the team even though Mark Giordano returned to the lineup on Saturday, which seems odd, but if it means Anton Babchuk sits I won’t complain.

The Avs were shutout by the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night and managed just 17 shots on ‘Yotes goaltender Mike Smith. The Flames, on the other hand, actually out-played the Canucks on Saturday night but were sunk by poor play in their own end, including in net, so if they get a few lucky bounces with Joey MacDonald between the pipes perhaps they’ll see better results.

Possible Lines and Pairings (via The Fan 960):

Tanguay-Reinhart-Stempniak

Baertschi-Horak-Cammalleri

Glencross-Stajan-Begin

Cervenka-Backlund-Jackman

Giordano-Wideman

Brodie-Butler

Sarich-Carson

MacDonald

Avs:

Parenteau-Duchene-McGinn

Jones-O'Reilly-Landeskog

McLeod-Mitchell-Bordeleau

Malone-Olver-Van der Gulik

Hunwick-Johnson

Zanon-Barrie

Elliott-Hedja

Varlamov

Go Flames.

by Hayley Mutch