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For the next seven games, the Calgary Flames will be facing exclusively eastern conference opponents. While this is a team that has had remarkable success within their own division, the stranger danger the east poses is very real: the Flames have just an 8-12-2 record against what is totally the inferior conference. This includes a game already against tonight's opponents, the New York Rangers. The two teams previously played when the Flames were in the midst of their eight-game losing streak. The Rags potted four goals on Karri Ramo, including two by Rick Nash, chasing him. Tonight, he might just get his revenge.
Hopefully the outcome will be better, at least. Last game, the Flames did something historic: they had a lead. A 2-0 lead, to be exact, courtesy of Matt Stajan and Joe Colborne. It was pretty fun, until the Anaheim Ducks scored five goals in the third period, totally taking the Flames' thunder and giving them a 6-3 beating. | Recap | Stats | Boxscore | At least Sean Monahan got his 20th for the second season in a row:
The Rangers, meanwhile, are looking pretty comfortable in their ability to make the playoffs, what with them having a 14 point lead on the Florida Panthers, the first team in the east just out of the dance at the moment. So they really don't need the points tonight. They've already picked up points in their last eight straight, with a 6-0-2 record (those overtime losses came against the Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks, so thanks a LOT, Rags, you owe us!).
Henrik Lundqvist is still out thanks to a puck taken to the throat, so he shouldn't be an issue. Mackenzie Skapski picked up his first NHL win against the Buffalo Sabres, but the Flames have a slightly better record than they do, and this isn't a back-to-back game for New York, so Cam Talbot - who has been doing a pretty decent job in Lundqvist's stead - might be the opposition tonight. For more on one of two teams with the New York moniker, head on over to Blueshirt Banter.
Game time: 5:00 p.m. MT, because the eastern time zone is awful
Channel: SNW
All-time record: These two guys don't face each other much, but the Flames are the all-time victors, with a 55-39-15-5 record. That tally carries a +67 goal differential with it. If the Flames can win by two goals tonight, that'll be a #nice goal differential.
Common threads: Both teams once held the rights to Tim Erixon. Man, that guy.
Also, Lee Stempniak is currently with the Rangers! He has seven goals and 16 points for them over 50 games. Always liked that guy.
Martin St. Louis is also a Ranger. He still owes us a Cup, I'm pretty sure.
Approaching milestones: Mason Raymond: seven more games to hit 500. Deryk Engelland: four more games for 300.
David Jones: 10 goals until 100. TJ Brodie: seven points until 100.
Michael Ferland: one goal until one goal. Emile Poirier: one game until one game played. Also one point until one point. That could happen tonight, if the rookies get to play and/or make debuts!
Scoreboard watching: The Flames are out of a playoff spot for the first time in forever, and it's very sad. They'll need a bit of help to get back in it.
- Vancouver Canucks at Boston Bruins - Hey Boston I know you left Alberta 0-2 that one time. Do us another favour?
- Colorado Avalanche at Nashville Predators - Probably not going to be an issue, but a Nashville win to help cement things wouldn't hurt.
- Edmonton Oilers at Minnesota Wild - Can we count on Edmonton for anything? The answer is no. They're useless.
- Dallas Stars at Winnipeg Jets - Dallas isn't that far behind, but the Flames can overtake the Jets if they just win. So a Dallas win in regulation is probably the preferred option here.
- Detroit Red Wings at Los Angeles Kings - Come on, you inexplicably flying tires.
Current records and leaders
Calgary Flames | New York Rangers | ||||
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Record: 32-23-4: 68 points | Record: 36-16-6: 78 points | ||||
Pacific Division: 4th | Metropolitan Division: 2nd | ||||
Western Conference: 9th | Eastern Conference: 4th | ||||
Goal Differential: +15 | Goal Differential: +40 | ||||
Time on ice | |||||
Defence: Mark Giordano (25:11 per game) Forward: Sean Monahan (19:10 per game) |
Defence: Ryan McDonagh (23:17 per game) Forward: Derek Stepan (18:14 per game) |
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Points | |||||
Goals: Sean Monahan (20) Assists: Mark Giordano (36) Points: Jiri Hudler (48) |
Goals: Rick Nash (37) Assists: Derick Brassard (34) Points: Rick Nash (58) |
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Shots | |||||
Shots on goal: Mark Giordano (152) Shooting percentage: Lance Bouma (18.2%) |
Shots on goal: Rick Nash (221) Shooting percentage: Rick Nash (16.7%) |
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Faceoff Leaders | |||||
Sean Monahan (50.3%, 1285 taken) |
Dominic Moore (54.7%, 759 taken) |
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Grit | |||||
Penalty minutes: Brandon Bollig (52) Hits: Lance Bouma (196) Blocked shots: Kris Russell (188) |
Penalty minutes: Chris Kreider (84) Hits: Dan Girardi (158) Blocked shots: Dan Girardi (119) |
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ES Corsi/Fenwick (minimum 1/2 team's games played) | |||||
Corsi for%: Mark Giordano (48.2%, 59 GP) TJ Brodie (47.6%, 59 GP) Fenwick for%: Josh Jooris (50.1%, 42 GP) Mark Giordano (48.1%, 59 GP) |
Corsi for%: Dan Boyle (55.0%, 41 GP) John Moore (53.9%, 36 GP) Fenwick for%: Dan Boyle (55.8%, 41 GP) John Moore (54.2%, 36 GP) |
Possible starting lineups
Calgary Flames | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Left Wing | Center | Right Wing | |||
Johnny Gaudreau | Sean Monahan | Jiri Hudler | |||
Lance Bouma | Mikael Backlund | David Jones | |||
Curtis Glencross | Joe Colborne | Josh Jooris | |||
Mason Raymond | Markus Granlund | Brandon Bollig | |||
Left Defence | Right Defence | ||||
Mark Giordano | TJ Brodie | ||||
Kris Russell | Dennis Wideman | ||||
Rafa Diaz | Deryk Engelland | ||||
Goalies | |||||
Karri Ramo | |||||
Jonas Hiller |
New York Rangers | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Left Wing | Center | Right Wing | |||
Rick Nash | Derick Brassard | Mats Zuccarello | |||
Chris Kreider | Derek Stepan | Martin St. Louis | |||
Carl Hagelin | Kevin Hayes | JT Miller | |||
Tanner Glass | Dominic Moore | Lee Stempniak | |||
Left Defence | Right Defence | ||||
Ryan McDonagh | Dan Girardi | ||||
Marc Staal | Kevin Klein | ||||
John Moore | Dan Boyle | ||||
Goalies | |||||
Cam Talbot | |||||
Mackenzie Skapski |
Emile Poirier and Michael Ferland might draw in. Or they might not. We don't really know just yet: there are going to be some game time decisions to be made.