The Flames and Panthers rematch takes place in balmy, glamorous Saskatoon this evening. Florida fell to Kyle Brodziak and the Edmonton Oilers last night and will be playing their 3rd game in three nights.
No rosters have been announced (chiefly so they can sell line-up sheets at the arena for $1.50 a pop like they did at the 'Dome on Sunday...no joke), so I can't say who'll be icing the "stronger" team.
I'm guessing the Flames will swap out a lot of the vets that played the first game. Expect Conroy, Tanguay, Aucoun, Phaneuf, Yelle and Lombardi to be spectators. Also, I think Mc-El will be in net, assuming he has fully recovered from his nut-cracker incident. Bubble guys who are pushing for roster spots like Boyd and Nystrom will likely remain in the line-up.
Other rookies the eager prairies folk will probably see tonight include David Van Der Gulik, Matt Pelech, Brad Cole, Carsen Germyn and Tomi Maki. I'm most interested in the exploits and progress of the first two guys, although any prospect standing out is welcome news.
Jarome Iginla will also be playing tonight, I suspect partially at the polite request of the league. You know, "special circumstances" and all. I personally don't care how he plays, aside from not getting hurt. I'm sure it'll be a rare treat for the native Saskatoonians in attendance anyways, even if he just coasts around and avoids hits all game.
BONUS MSM FILLER - Bruce Dowbiggen wins the "Dennis Miller" award for this line in his recent "All Eyes on Iron Mike" story:
The Mike Watch began that summer day when Darryl Sutter flabbergasted the cognoscenti by naming the spectral Mike Keenan to coach his team.
It's a superfluous fluff piece, but Bruce deserves kudos for that poetic bit of bombast nonetheless.
