Not only do the Flames have a chance to exact revenge for last week's 3-2 S/O loss, they can set a franchise record with their 10th consecutive home victory tonight.
Reasons to be optimistic:
- As Matt mentions, Minnesota's success is somewhat illusory. They have managed only 6 regulation wins en route to their NW division leading 34 points. At some point, one has to think the coin will stop landing on heads for the Wild.
- Calgary is an excellent team at home. The Flames haven't lost in the 'Dome since October. And since Calgary out-shot and out-chanced Minnesota in Minnesota last week, the Flame's probablity of victory is substantially increased this evening (assuming semi-competent officiating of course).
- Kipper has never lost to the Wild on home ice. According to the Flames website, his GAA in 6 Dome games against them is a miniscule 1.37.
- Jarome Iginla. Just Jarome Iginla.
Reasons to be Pessimistic:
- The record setting stuff. Records like this stick around for a reason. Calgary had an opportunity to set a high water mark last year (9 straight wins) but instead shit the bed against a terrible Chicago team at home and lost 5-2.
- More Matt wisdom: the Flames have an impending brutal 6 game road trip. The team may be more worried about that than tonight's contest.
- The injury bug has struck again. Nilson is still sidelined by his tweaked knee, Yelle isn't ready to return and now Warrener and Zyuzin are hurt. In response, Calgary has called up Richie Regehr, Mark Giordano and (surprisingly) Tomi Maki from Omaha. That's a pretty solid chunk of ice-time that will have to be filled by rookies and/or absorbed by vets.
- Pavol Demitra is back from IR and is a Flame killer. In 28 games versus Calgary over his career, Demitra has accumulated 15 goals and 28 points. Ouch.
- Matt is predicting a 2-0 loss. And his ability to accurately divine Flame's outcomes at home is scary good.
- And finally, I will be in attendance. The chances of Calgary winning two in a row with me there are very poor indeed.
Despite the greater number of pessimistic points, I think I'll take a 2-1 Calgary victory tonight. Iginla and Kobasew for the Flames, Demitra for the Wild.
Go Flames!
update - Matt has altered his predcition to a 3-1 Flames win. Add that to the "reasons to me optimistic" list. Thanks for the heads up HG.
