What a day this has been for Flames fans. The morning started off with news that Alex Tanguay was out indefinitely, which coupled with Jay Feaster's admission that he might be looking to buy at the trade deadline led to rampant speculation of who could replace Tanguay. Which of course was followed up by the news that it wasn't, in fact, a concussion and instead was a "neck strain"
So that news brings us to tonight- the 56th game of the Calgary Flames season. The Ottawa Senators are having nearly as many injury issues as the Flames, and just as important, are pushing the Edmonton Oilers and New York Islanders for top lottery pick/lousiest team in the league.
If there's a game left on the schedule that's classified as "must-win", it's this one. Between the Senator's injury woes and being a terrible team all around, losing this game in a playoff march is not an option.
Robin Lehner will start in net for the Senators, over a terrible Brian Elliott and a conglomeration of parts resembling Pascale Leclaire. Furthermore, Sens Captain Daniel Alfredsson was announced as being out indefinitely with a lower back injury.
Don't expect this to be a pretty game, with 2/3 of the Flames top line being Rene Bourque (or Rinny Birk, if you listened to the last podcast) and Brendan Morrison and the Senators top players not being a whole lot better.
Finally, here's your gratuitous blue grass song of the evening:
The Avett Brothers - Nothing Short Of Thankful (via X0O00O0X2)