FOUR THINGS TO WATCH WITH FLAMES
1. CURTAIN-RAISERS
Over the past 20 seasons, the Flames have posted a 3-13-4 record in Game 1. Last year?s opener in Washington? A 5-4 shootout loss, which featured a two-point performance by D Mark Giordano in his first official spin as team captain. It marked the first of 49 one-goal games for the Flames. By the way, all-time against the Canucks, the Flames are 123-87-45, including 58-32-17 in Calgary. The Flames, however, have won only one of their last 10 against Vancouver.
2. THE ?A? TEAM
Pitching in with captain Mark Giordano, LW Curtis Glencross and D Kris Russell will serve as alternates. Glencross wore a letter last winter, but this is new stuff for Russell, 27. ?A standup guy,? said coach Bob Hartley. ?He doesn?t make much noise, but when it?s time to speak up, he?s there. He?s a special person. Great values. I never have to worry about him. I know he?s going to show up . . . with great intentions. He?s a tough little bugger. And he never complains.?
3. WHAT ABOUT BOB?
The Flames coach is heading into his deal?s final year, with few whispers of an extension ? which, Hartley claims, is fine. In fact, after his media scrum Tuesday, he re-gathered reporters to make a point. ?My contract situation will not be a distraction,? he said. ?I want to be the Calgary Flames coach for many years. But my contract situation, I?m addressing it right now for the first and last time until the end.? Later, GM Brad Treliving declined meaningful comment.
4. INS, OUTS, WHAT-HAVE-YOUS
Scratches for Vancouver?s visit ? D Raphael Diaz, RW Devin Setoguchi, RW David Jones . . . C Markus Granlund has been assigned to Adirondack . . . D Corey Potter (shoulder) and C Sam Bennett (shoulder) have been shifted to the injured non-roster list . . . Because of Brian Burke?s old-school mandate ? no sweater numbers above No. 35 ? Diaz is now No. 33, while LW Johnny Gaudreau is No. 13 . . . Adirondack signed D Nolan Yonkman to an AHL deal.
THE FLAMES
Flames Lines
* C.Glencross-S.Monahan-J.Hudler
* M.Raymond-M.Backlund-L.Bouma
* J.Gaudreau-J.Colborne-P.Byron
* B.Bollig-M.Stajan-B.McGrattan
Flames Pairings
* M.Giordano-T.J.Brodie
* L.Smid-D.Wideman
* K.Russell-D.Engelland
Flames Goalies
* J.Hiller
* K.Ramo
Flames Injuries
* None
THE CANUCKS
Canucks Lines
* D.Sedin-H.Sedin-R.Vrbata
* C.Higgins-N.Bonino-A.Burrows
* Z.Kassian-L.Vey-B.Richardson
* J.Hansen-S.Matthias-D.Dorsett
Canucks Pairings
* D.Hamhuis-L.Sbisa
* A.Edler-C.Tanev
* Y.Weber-R.Stanton
Canucks Goalies
* R.Miller
* E.Lack
Canucks Injuries
* D Kevin Bieksa (unspecified), D Frank Corrado (upper body), C Bo Horvath (shoulder)
1. CURTAIN-RAISERS
Over the past 20 seasons, the Flames have posted a 3-13-4 record in Game 1. Last year?s opener in Washington? A 5-4 shootout loss, which featured a two-point performance by D Mark Giordano in his first official spin as team captain. It marked the first of 49 one-goal games for the Flames. By the way, all-time against the Canucks, the Flames are 123-87-45, including 58-32-17 in Calgary. The Flames, however, have won only one of their last 10 against Vancouver.
2. THE ?A? TEAM
Pitching in with captain Mark Giordano, LW Curtis Glencross and D Kris Russell will serve as alternates. Glencross wore a letter last winter, but this is new stuff for Russell, 27. ?A standup guy,? said coach Bob Hartley. ?He doesn?t make much noise, but when it?s time to speak up, he?s there. He?s a special person. Great values. I never have to worry about him. I know he?s going to show up . . . with great intentions. He?s a tough little bugger. And he never complains.?
3. WHAT ABOUT BOB?
The Flames coach is heading into his deal?s final year, with few whispers of an extension ? which, Hartley claims, is fine. In fact, after his media scrum Tuesday, he re-gathered reporters to make a point. ?My contract situation will not be a distraction,? he said. ?I want to be the Calgary Flames coach for many years. But my contract situation, I?m addressing it right now for the first and last time until the end.? Later, GM Brad Treliving declined meaningful comment.
4. INS, OUTS, WHAT-HAVE-YOUS
Scratches for Vancouver?s visit ? D Raphael Diaz, RW Devin Setoguchi, RW David Jones . . . C Markus Granlund has been assigned to Adirondack . . . D Corey Potter (shoulder) and C Sam Bennett (shoulder) have been shifted to the injured non-roster list . . . Because of Brian Burke?s old-school mandate ? no sweater numbers above No. 35 ? Diaz is now No. 33, while LW Johnny Gaudreau is No. 13 . . . Adirondack signed D Nolan Yonkman to an AHL deal.
THE FLAMES
Flames Lines
* C.Glencross-S.Monahan-J.Hudler
* M.Raymond-M.Backlund-L.Bouma
* J.Gaudreau-J.Colborne-P.Byron
* B.Bollig-M.Stajan-B.McGrattan
Flames Pairings
* M.Giordano-T.J.Brodie
* L.Smid-D.Wideman
* K.Russell-D.Engelland
Flames Goalies
* J.Hiller
* K.Ramo
Flames Injuries
* None
THE CANUCKS
Canucks Lines
* D.Sedin-H.Sedin-R.Vrbata
* C.Higgins-N.Bonino-A.Burrows
* Z.Kassian-L.Vey-B.Richardson
* J.Hansen-S.Matthias-D.Dorsett
Canucks Pairings
* D.Hamhuis-L.Sbisa
* A.Edler-C.Tanev
* Y.Weber-R.Stanton
Canucks Goalies
* R.Miller
* E.Lack
Canucks Injuries
* D Kevin Bieksa (unspecified), D Frank Corrado (upper body), C Bo Horvath (shoulder)
