Connect with us

Calgary Flames

Calgary Flames vs Philadelphia Flyers game preview: Must win

They're all must wins, now.

Published

on

The Calgary Flames officially need help to make the playoffs. With the Los Angeles Kings‘ overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks last night, the Flames are out. Probably not forever, because there’s been a lot of up-and-down movement throughout the season, but you know, right now, it kinda sucks. A win against the Philadelphia Flyers tonight would definitely help make it suck less, though! And it’s certainly possible, since the last time they met, just a little over two weeks ago, the Flames won 3-2 after giving up a 2-0 lead. Jiri Hudler’s overtime winner saved that day. Phew.

That was definitely better than the last game, when the St. Louis Blues came to town, the Flames played them for the first time since October, and lost 4-0. That sucked. | Recap | Stats | Boxscore | “Highlights:”

The Flyers, meanwhile, have really not been doing so well since they lost to the Flames. In the eight games they’ve played since, they’ve won twice: against the Blues (wait what how) and Detroit Red Wings (been there, done that). They’ve lost three times in overtime, and three times in regulation, most recently to the Vancouver Canucks. The Flyers are useless.

Please keep being useless tonight. For more, head on over to Broad Street Hockey.

Game time: 7:00 p.m. MT

Channel: SNW

All-time record: The Flames aren't doing so hot against the Flyers all-time, losing 47-62-12-2, with a goal differential of -45. That should hopefully get fixed some tonight. If it got fixed in one fell swoop that would be amazing. Let's aim for that. It's realistic.

Common threads: Vincent Lecavalier sucks and I hate him.

Approaching milestones: Dennis Wideman is now four games from 700, Jiri Hudler is seven away from 600, and Rafa Diaz is seven away from 200.

Karri Ramo is nine wins away from 50!

David Jones is still nine goals away from 100. He probably always will be.

TJ Brodie is three away from 100 points. Tonight! Get there tonight!

The only realistically achievable milestone I found for the Flyers for tonight is Chris Pronger being two points away from 700. … Something tells me that’s probably not going to happen… ever…

Scoreboard watching: There's a lot of hockey tonight, and a lot of teams we would really, really like to see lose:

Current records and leaders

Calgary Flames Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 38-27-4: 81 points Record: 29-28-15: 73 points
Pacific Division: 4th Metro Division: 5th
Western Conference: 9th Eastern Conference: 11th
Goal Differential: +20 Goal Differential: -19
Time on ice
Defence: Mark Giordano (25:10 per game)
Forward: Sean Monahan (19:26 per game)
Defence: Mark Streit (22:18 per game)
Forward: Claude Giroux (20:42 per game)
Points
Goals: Sean Monahan (27)
Assists: Mark Giordano (37)
Points: Jiri Hudler (60)
Goals: Wayne Simmonds (27)
Assists: Jakub Voracek (48)
Points: Jakub Voracek (69)
Shots
Shots on goal: Sean Monahan (159)
Shooting percentage: Jiri Hudler (18.9%)
Shots on goal: Claude Giroux (248)
Shooting percentage: Michael Raffl (15.5%)
Faceoff Leaders
Sean Monahan (50.2%, 1541 taken) Claude Giroux (56.2%, 1691 taken)
Grit
Penalty minutes: Brandon Bollig (66)
Hits: Lance Bouma (233)
Blocked shots: Kris Russell (241)
Penalty minutes: Zac Rinaldo (96)
Hits: Luke Schenn (193)
Blocked shots: Nick Schultz (139)
ES Corsi/Fenwick (minimum 1/2 team’s games played)
Corsi for%: Mark Giordano (48.4%, 61 GP)
Josh Jooris (46.8%, 52 GP)
Fenwick for%: Josh Jooris (49.2%, 52 GP)
Mark Giordano (48.6%, 61 GP)
Corsi for%: Michael Raffl (56.5%, 57 GP)
Jakub Voracek (54.7%, 72 GP)
Fenwick for%: Michael Raffl (56.9%, 57 GP)
Jakub Voracek (53.5%, 72 GP)

Possible starting lineups

Calgary Flames
Left Wing Center Right Wing
Johnny Gaudreau Sean Monahan Jiri Hudler
Lance Bouma Mikael Backlund David Jones
Mason Raymond Markus Granlund Joe Colborne
Brandon Bollig Matt Stajan Michael Ferland
Left Defence Right Defence
Kris Russell Dennis Wideman
TJ Brodie Deryk Engelland
David Schlemko Rafa Diaz
Goalies
Karri Ramo
Jonas Hiller

Philadelphia Flyers
Left Wing Center Right Wing
Michael Raffl Claude Giroux Jakub Voracek
Brayden Schenn Sean Couturier Wayne Simmonds
Ryan White Nick Cousins Zac Rinaldo
Chris VandeVelde Pierre-Edouard Bellemare Vincent Lecavalier
Left Defence Right Defence
Nick Schultz Mark Streit
Nicklas Grossmann Andrew MacDonald
Carlo Colaiacovo Luke Schenn
Goalies
Steve Mason
Ray Emery

Drew Shore and Josh Jooris both have minor injuries, explaining the Markus Granlund recall, but not touching on just what a poor mess they're making of the Emile Poirier situation at all.

by Ari Yanover