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Motorin’ on: Flames vs. Red Wings preview

Los Angeles just won't go away, so the Flames need to get another two points to stay in the race. It's not going to be easy tonight.

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The Flames are back in action today, the second game of a back-to-back. This game is the sixth of their seven game road trip, and the third game in four days. Needless to say, the Flames may just be a wee bit tired; nothing a bit of hard work and grit can’t solve!

Last night, the Flames took down the Boston Bruins in extra time for the second time this year, ending an 11 year winless streak and an eight year goalless streak in Boston. While there was no dramatic comeback, new Flame David Schlemko ended it in the shootout with a very sleek move. It really must be seen to be believed. Hopefully he gets more than seven minutes tonight- earned, never given – right? Recap | Stats | Boxscore.

Tonight’s opponent is our former Western rivals, the ever-dominant Detroit Red Wings. I really don’t like the Wings being in the East, it was fun playing them more than twice a season. But alas, here we are. The last time these two teams met, it was January 7th back at the Dome. Mikael Backlund returned, but Karri Ramo injured himself going for a poke-check, and the Wings won 3-2.

Detroit is a bit more rested than the Flames, their last game being a 2-1 OT victory over the New York Rangers on Wednesday. They’ll be eager to show off new acquisitions Erik Cole and Marek Zidlicky. Cole was +1, and Zidlicky scored the overtime winner. For more on the Wings, visit here: Winging It In Motown

Game Time: 5:30 PM

Channel: SNW

All-time Record: It’s a tie! The Flames have gone 66-66-16-5 versus the Red Wings, but have a +1 in the goal differential department. We’ll call that a win for us.

Common Threads: Jiri Hudler used to be a Red Wing. Oh yeah, there’s also this:

It can be said that this is irrelevant nearly 11 years later, but this is what most of us think when we hear “Flames versus Red Wings.” So yes, still relevant.

Approaching milestones: Dennis Wideman is ten games from 700, five more games until Mason Raymond hits 500, and six more for Kris Russell until he does the same.

TJ Brodie needs five more points for 100 career points, and Sean Monahan needs six for 50 points this season.

Michael Ferland and Emile Poirier are still looking for their first NHL goals, it really depends if Bob Hartley feels like playing them though.

Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk are both six goals away from 300. Tomas Tatar is seven points away from 100. Let’s hope none of these happen.

Scoreboard watching:

Current records and leaders

Calgary Flames Detroit Red Wings
Record: 35-25-4: 74 points Record: 36-15-11: 83 points
Pacific Division: 3rd Atlantic Division: 3rd
Western Conference: 8th Eastern Conference: 5th
Goal Differential: +17 Goal Differential: +22
Time on ice
Defence: TJ Brodie (25:15 per game)
Forward: Sean Monahan (19:23 per game)
Defence: Niklas Kronwall (23:48 per game)
Forward: Pavel Datsyuk (19:08 per game)
Points
Goals: Sean Monahan (23)
Assists: Mark Giordano (37)
Points: Jiri Hudler (52)
Goals: Tomas Tatar (25)
Assists: Henrik Zetterberg (36)
Points: Pavel Datsyuk (52)
Shots
Shots on goal: Mark Giordano (157)
Shooting percentage: Jiri Hudler (17.5%)
Shots on goal: Henrik Zetterberg (172)
Shooting percentage: Stephen Weiss (17.5%)
Faceoff Leaders
Sean Monahan (50.2%, 1411 taken) Pavel Datsyuk (52.4%, 902 taken)
Grit
Penalty minutes: Brandon Bollig (52)
Hits: Lance Bouma (217)
Blocked shots: Kris Russell (218)
Penalty minutes: Brendan Smith (58)
Hits: Justin Abdelkader (127)
Blocked shots: Niklas Kronwall (89)
ES Corsi/Fenwick (minimum 1/2 team’s games played)
Corsi for%: Mark Giordano (48.4%, 61 GP)
TJ Brodie (47.3%, 64 GP)
Fenwick for%: Josh Jooris (50.3%, 47 GP)
Mark Giordano (48.6%, 61 GP)
Tomas Tatar (59.3%, 62 GP)
Pavel Datsyuk (59.1%, 51 GP)
Fenwick for%: Jakub Kindl (57.1%, 33 GP)
Tomas Tatar (56.6%, 62 GP)

Possible starting lineups

Jonas Hiller will get the start tonight, once someone dusts the cobwebs off of him. The Flames are down one David Jones after last night, leaving early in the first with a lower body injury after blocking a Dougie Hamilton shot. Michael Ferland and Matt Stajan will slot in, but Emile Poirier is out for some reason. Sigh.

Detroit is also suffering their fair share of injuries, having lost Darren Helm recently. They also don’t have Johan Franzen, but they’re doing quite well without them. Damn you and your well run organization.

Calgary Flames
Left Wing Center Right Wing
Johnny Gaudreau Sean Monahan Jiri Hudler
Lance Bouma Mikael Backlund Joe Colborne
Mason Raymond Drew Shore Josh Jooris
Brandon Bollig Matt Stajan
Michael Ferland
Left Defence Right Defence
Kris Russell Dennis Wideman
TJ Brodie Deryk Engelland
David Schlemko Raphael Diaz
Goalies
Jonas Hiller
Kari Ramo

Detroit Red Wings
Left Wing Center Right Wing
Tomas Jurco Pavel Datsyuk Tomas Tatar
Justin Abdelkader Henrik Zetterberg Erik Cole
Stephen Weiss Riley Sheahan Gustav Nyquist
Drew Miller Joakim Andersson Luke Glendening
Left Defence Right Defence
Jonathan Ericsson Niklas Kronwall
Dan DeKeyser Kyle Quincey
Brendan Smith Marek Zidlicky
Goalies
Jimmy Howard
Jonas Gustavsson

Make sure you join us all tonight in the game thread!

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