It?s Calgary?s final opportunity to slay the Anaheim dragon this season as the Flames take on the Ducks tonight at the Honda Center (8 pm, Sportsnet 960 and Sportsnet West). It?s been 14 straight losses for Calgary in the land Walt built and snapping that dubious streak tonight would be perfect timing for a Flames team sitting two back of the playoffs.
Calgary got some help on the out of town scoreboard last night and can potentially get some more tonight. A Flames win coupled with a Stars loss in Edmonton would put Calgary back in a tie for the final Western Conference playoff spot. The Flames played a pretty decent game en route to a 4-2 win in Phoenix last night, and seeing a similar type effort should give them positive results tonight.
Calgary Flames 29-24-11, 11th Western Conference
Alex Tanguay-Mike Cammalleri-Jarome Iginla
Curtis Glencross-Olli Jokinen-David Moss
Tom Kostopoulos-Matt Stajan-Blake Comeau
Lance Bouma-Roman Horak-Tim Jackman
Jay Bouwmeester-Derek Smith
Mark Giordano-Scott Hannan
T.J. Brodie-Cory Sarich
Leland Irving
It?ll be Irving?s first start since Calgary loss to Phoenix in early February. With a 1-1-3 record, Irving?s stats don?t look great, but he?s given the team an opportunity to win in every game he?s played save the Boston debacle in January. Resting Miikka Kiprusoff is the right move and Irving is the best option at backup, even though Henrik Karlsson is also on the roster.
The top line was pretty strong last night, and it?s a trend that cannot be something out of the ordinary. Instead, seeing Iginla et al make an impact like they did against Phoenix needs to be a regular thing, as it hasn?t been over the last little while. On that same note, the Jokinen line was very effective against the Coyotes, as Moss fit back in instantly. Glencross was the best player on the ice in my eyes, and that type of play will be huge for the team as they continue along.
Anaheim Ducks 27-27-10, 13th Western Conference
Bobby Ryan-Ryan Getzlaf-Corey Perry
Niklas Hagman-Saku Koivu-Teemu Selanne
Jason Blake-Nick Bonino-Andrew Cogliano
Matt Beleskey-Rod Pelley-Devante Smith-Pelly
Francois Beauchemin-Cam Fowler
Luca Sbisa-Lubomir Visnovsky
Tony Lydman-Sheldon Brookbank
Jonas Hiller
Hiller will set a Ducks record by starting his 24th consecutive game tonight. The previous record was set, not surprisingly, by him at 23. Hiller?s second half of the season has been a big reason why Anaheim has gotten themselves back in the picture somewhat. They currently sit five points back of the Flames and seven back of the playoffs, thanks in large part to a 17-5-4 run.
Last time out the Ducks fell 2-0 at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres.
Calgary got some help on the out of town scoreboard last night and can potentially get some more tonight. A Flames win coupled with a Stars loss in Edmonton would put Calgary back in a tie for the final Western Conference playoff spot. The Flames played a pretty decent game en route to a 4-2 win in Phoenix last night, and seeing a similar type effort should give them positive results tonight.
Calgary Flames 29-24-11, 11th Western Conference
Alex Tanguay-Mike Cammalleri-Jarome Iginla
Curtis Glencross-Olli Jokinen-David Moss
Tom Kostopoulos-Matt Stajan-Blake Comeau
Lance Bouma-Roman Horak-Tim Jackman
Jay Bouwmeester-Derek Smith
Mark Giordano-Scott Hannan
T.J. Brodie-Cory Sarich
Leland Irving
It?ll be Irving?s first start since Calgary loss to Phoenix in early February. With a 1-1-3 record, Irving?s stats don?t look great, but he?s given the team an opportunity to win in every game he?s played save the Boston debacle in January. Resting Miikka Kiprusoff is the right move and Irving is the best option at backup, even though Henrik Karlsson is also on the roster.
The top line was pretty strong last night, and it?s a trend that cannot be something out of the ordinary. Instead, seeing Iginla et al make an impact like they did against Phoenix needs to be a regular thing, as it hasn?t been over the last little while. On that same note, the Jokinen line was very effective against the Coyotes, as Moss fit back in instantly. Glencross was the best player on the ice in my eyes, and that type of play will be huge for the team as they continue along.
Anaheim Ducks 27-27-10, 13th Western Conference
Bobby Ryan-Ryan Getzlaf-Corey Perry
Niklas Hagman-Saku Koivu-Teemu Selanne
Jason Blake-Nick Bonino-Andrew Cogliano
Matt Beleskey-Rod Pelley-Devante Smith-Pelly
Francois Beauchemin-Cam Fowler
Luca Sbisa-Lubomir Visnovsky
Tony Lydman-Sheldon Brookbank
Jonas Hiller
Hiller will set a Ducks record by starting his 24th consecutive game tonight. The previous record was set, not surprisingly, by him at 23. Hiller?s second half of the season has been a big reason why Anaheim has gotten themselves back in the picture somewhat. They currently sit five points back of the Flames and seven back of the playoffs, thanks in large part to a 17-5-4 run.
Last time out the Ducks fell 2-0 at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres.
