Winnipeg Jets at Calgary Flames [Game 31]

The Calgary Flames are back at home after a brief road trip where they recently downed the Arizona Coyotes in overtime. The Flames clearly played down to their opponent last game, but managed the ROW victory. They’ll face a much tougher task tonight against the Winnipeg Jets tonight.

Kris Versteeg is still a noticeable absence from the lineup. As a result, Micheal Ferland is still up with Sean Monahan and Troy Brouwer while Lance Bouma is back on the fourth line. If we’re being honest, only the first and third lines look competent to win games regularly and while the Flames are in first place, if they don’t make some adjustments down the line then Chad Johnson is really going to have his work cut it out for him.

The defense is the same for some reason. The Flames only competent pairing is Mark Giordano and Dougie Hamilton. The pairing of T.J. Brodie and Dennis Wiseman has been disasterous and Jyrki Jokipakka is supporting numbers that make Kris Russell look good (though he finally got his SZV CF rel% above negative seven last game).

For now, it's lay and pray on Chad Johnson and hope that the power play continues to improve. The 3M line is going to have its work cut out for it tonight and don't expect positive possession from Calgary tonight. Go Flames, go!

by Les Mavus