I'd be a liar if I told you I wasn't looking past tonight's game to tomorrow's HNIC date with Vancouver. With chance a to kill the Canuck's play-off dreams again, I just can't help myself.
Not that a win against the Wild this evening isn't important. It is. Until the play-offs are assured (along, perhaps, with the NW division) every point is precious. Which means I hope the players aren't thinking the way I am about the game tomorrow.
As for the Wild, their play-off hopes are all but gone. Instead, they are looking to play "Ruiner" (as Manny Fernandez put it) for all those Western teams still battling to make it to the dance. Something they did to a degree last night against the Oilers, with a little help from a mis-handled video replay.
As a result of the Oiler's S/O loss, marvel at the continuing Western log-jam here.
As you can see, the Canuck's play-off chances are growing dimmer. In contrast, if the Flames gather 3 points over the next 2 games, they'll be a lock for the post season and be within a mere skip and a jump away from the NW division banner. Yay!!
As for tonight, Mark Giordano has apparently been recalled from the farm. There's talk that both Leopold and Hulse are injured now (as well as nearly half the team it seems), which means, barring a return of Rhett Warrener, we may see both Giordano and Mush in the line-up tonight. Uh-oh...
On the positive side, it looks like Lundmark has recovered from his puffy-eye-thing and will draw back into the line-up. That will probably mean the exit of Lynn Loyns. Other "come back" potentials include Darren McCaty and Mike Leclerc, though it's fuzzy if that means they'll return against the Wild or the Canucks. Whatever happens, let's just pray Leopold isn't too badly hurt. Also, pray that the Flames continue to score like they have recently. The latter comment may not be related to the injury thing, but I thought I'd throw it in there.
If Calgary has anything going in their favor, it's that the Wild played a long, relatively hard fought game last night. Meaning they may be tired tonight. Not to mention the fact that the Flame's home record (27-7-4) is vastly superior to the Wild's road record (14-18-5). Yay!! (again)
Hopefully the Flames pull out two points today and set themselves up for an incredibly gratifying victory tomorrow night over the Canucks.
Go Flames Go!
