After having their winning streak snapped in a shootout loss to the Kings on Saturday, the Flames (26-21-7) look to get back on track tonight against the Blackawks (27-21-4) with the season series tied at one win apiece and eighth place on the line (7:30 MST, Sportsnet West]
The 'Hawks are 6-3-1 in the last ten games and are in the midst of a six-game road trip, on which they are 1-1 after losing to the Canucks on Friday, and are a healthy bunch, missing just one player in forward Ryan Johnson. For the Flames, Niklas Hagman will sit out again tonight with what is believed to be a "lower body" injury, and is day-to-day.
As Mitch pointed out in the game preview, the Flames will have to be a lot more disciplined than they were Saturday night against the Kings, as Chicago scored all four of their goals on the powerplay in the last meeting between these two teams; the Blackhawks possess the league's most dangerous man advantage unit, and although the Flames have been solid on the PK recently, it is important that they stay out of the box and try to play at even strength and/or on the powerplay as much as possible.
Corey Crawford will start in net for the Blackhawks despite struggling in his past five games, with two regulation losses and an OT loss, while Miikka Kiprusoff will again get the start for the home side.
Enjoy the game everyone and celebrate Robyn Regehr's 800th career game in the comments. It really is amazing that he's made it this far. Go Flames.