Pre-Season Game Thread #6: Rangers at Flames

In their second-to-last pre-season game, the Flames are icing a lineup tonight that looks pretty close to what we could expect to see on opening night on October 3rd, with the exception of Jiri Hudler and Mike Cammalleri, who we learned today is expected to miss some time with a “significant” hand injury:

Mike Cammalleri, big question for #Flames. Hearing significant injury to his hand. Has missed games and much of pre season.

— Roger Millions (@RogMillions) September 23, 2013

Bob, Hartley, however, had this to say:

“I really think that Jiri Hudler, Michael Cammalleri will be in the lineup in Washintgon but they’re not ready at this time.”

“Well with [Cammalleri], and I’m not lying at all, it all depends if he’s sitting or standing. If he’s sitting, it’s lower body. If he’s standing, well then it’s upper body. Try to figure that one out, and I’m not lying. I never lie.

“[Hudler], it’s lower body.”

So that's bizzare.

Losing Cammy and possibly Hudler certainly makes the Flames' already thin top six even thinner, especially since Cammalleri is a centre now, but gives some of the kids that are still left a chance to stick with the team out of camp if the injuries are long-term.

Here are the Flames' projected lines for tonight (via the team website):

Glencross-Stajan-Stempniak

Galiardi-Monahan-Reinhart

Ferland-Backlund-Knight

Bouma-Horak-McGrattan

Russell-Wideman

Giordano-Brodie

Smith-O'Brien

Ramo

MacDonald

Henrik Lundqvist will start for the Rangers.

Go Flames!

by Hayley Mutch