New York Rangers at Calgary Flames [Game 16]

The Calgary Flames are back at ScotiaBank Saddledome again, this time taking on the New York Rangers. The Flames are in sixth place in the division, carry the worst goal differential in the league, and have lost three straight. Suffice it to say, they could really use a win right here.

With that being said, the Rangers have the best goal differential and this one looks quite lopsided. Their offense is firing on all cylinders and the defense has been doing well. Of course it doesn’t hurt to have Henrik Lundqvist in net.

Dennis Wideman makes his return to the lineup in place of Jyrki Jokipakka. Jokipakka has not played well at all this season and the benching is quite warranted, but Wideman is hardly an ideal solution. He’s paired up with Dougie Hamilton who continues to get stuck playing with a scourge of absolutely awful defensemen.

The team recalled Garnett Hathaway earlier in the day, but he won’t play tonight. It looked like he might go in place of Micheal Ferland who was a bit questionable, but that’s not the case. The forwards tonight remain the same.

Brian Elliott gets the nod in net. He’ll have his work cut out for him tonight. The Rangers are certainly a tough team, but if the Vancouver Canucks of all teams can beat them then they can certainly be bested.

by Les Mavus