Okay...so the last Flames/Canucks match was a barrel of suck from a Calgary perspective. In fact, that's been true of nearly every Flames/Canucks match since the latter half of last season.
Vancouver is 18th in the league in scoring this year, yet seem to have little trouble putting up the goals against the Flames. Injuries, lack of depth, home or away: the circumstances have made little difference. A Vancouver victory is apprently assured when these two teams face each other these days.
Let's hope that trend is about to end. I have plenty of reasons to hate the Canucks: the 04 play-offs, the Divisional thing, the seemingly endless parade of dispicable players (Bertuzzi, Jovo-Monkey, Ruutu, Cooke, Burrows), so we might as well add this one to the pile.
Actual Analysis -
Vancouver is without Bieksa, Ohlund and Kesler. That's 3 of their shut-down players. Iginla and Huselius should technically have a field day, particularly at home. A couple of the secondary players have been chipping in recently (Conroy, Lombardi, Boyd) so I think the time is ripe for the Flames to take advantage of an injury depleted club, Luongo or no Luongo. If Kipper can resemble an NHL goalie tonight, the Flames take this one.
Prediction - Calgary 3 Vancouver 2. Iginla, Lombardi and Aucoin for the Flames. Mason Raymond (2) for the Canucks.
Go Flames.
