Saddle Up - Flames vs Canucks Game 4 Preview

Vancouver Canucks @ Calgary Flames - 8PM MT

CBC, USA Network (TV), OMNI (Punjabi TV), Sportsnet 960 The FAN (Radio)

Were you there on Sunday night, for game three? If so, give yourself a pat on the back. The atmosphere was most definitely turned up to 11, and the C of Red was glorious. I mean, you were helped greatly by the top-notch show the Flames put on (recap/stats/analysis), but you certainly played your part. Thank you for being the best you could be.

Oh, and thank you Flames org for this awesome video:

Now, on to game four. The Flames lead the series 2-1, and the fact remains the same: win the remaining home games and they are through to round two. They need all your noise and all your backing. You know what to do.

Winning out at home is easier said than done, but the Canucks are on the ropes. The only way they know how to deal with Johnny Gaudreau and Sam Bennett (what a start to a career by the way) is by having to cheap shot them. Michael Ferland is in their heads, so much so the only way anyone can touch him is if they drop their gloves and cheap shot him, too (oh, hi Kevin Bieksa).

The thing I enjoyed the most about Sunday's game wasn't the score, although that was nice. It was the performance. Johnny Hockeyed, Backlund and Stajan were on it, Ferland was imperious and Brandon Bollig scored. Everybody, from Jonas Hiller through to Mason Raymond, were on form, and it was great to see. The Canucks don't know how to handle an in-form Calgary team. Not bad for a team of dumb-dumbs (oh, hi again Kevin Bieksa).

Essentially, more of the same. Play your natural game, and good things will happen.

Playoff Leaders

Potential Starting Lineups (Subject to change)

Uncle Bob Hartley called a couple of audibles in the lineup for game three, with Mason Raymond and Tyler Wotherspoon added to the side after the projected lines had gone out. Both are likely to start game four, with Raymond in particular giving the fourth line some added speed and skill.

Vancouver were to be full strength. Alex Burrows' instigator penalty from game three had been rescinded, but as we now know he was taken to hospital after being injured in morning practice, so in comes a certain Sven Baertschi, recalled this morning anyway but now certain to play.

Join M&G in the gamethread, where we will be cheering on Michael Ferland in his crusade against stupid dumb-dumbs.