Quick one before the game tonight.
Calgary is in a position where they can ill afford to keep giving up points to the lesser lights. They've made a bad habit of it in the New Year and are in the midst of a tooth and nail battle for a play-off spot. God knows how the NW division would look if the Canucks weren't decimated by injuries. As it is they're just 3 points back of Calgary, with the bloody Avs (even without Sakic, Smyth and Statsny) continuing to keep pace. It looks like it'll come down to the wire and the Flames will want to be in a favorable position going into the string of 9 divisional contests to end the year.
As such, Calgary has to come out and play against the Hawks the way the played the last 10 minutes of the game against the Coyotes - except all night this time. With Jarome's slump punctured, one can hope the top line will be back to contributing at ES, which would go a long way to claiming victory this evening (Chicago's kids aren't that good at ES yet). The Blackhawks are in the middle of a big, long roadtrip and playing their 2nd game in 2 nights. They have lost 5 in a row and their starting tender tonight (The Bulin Wall) has lost his last 10: in sum, they're ripe for the picking. A good, fast start should bury the opposition tonight - so let's all hope for a decent first period for a change.
Some interesting things from last game:
A Phaneuf/Regehr pairing emerged in the 3rd period. I don't know if that was because Keenan was looking for offense or because Cory Sarich played like Peter Mueller was invisible to him most of the game, but either way it looked pretty good. That said, I doubt it will persist into this game.
The 4th line actually out-shot and out-chanced someone for the first time in recent memory. Im sure some of that had to do with the opposition (who was also quite tired), but I think the fact that everyone could, you know, at least skate for a change (sorry Godard, Primeau) was a significant factor. According to Inside the Flames, that trio (Nilson, Boyd, Smith) will be back together tonight. Good news.
Apparently Tanguay and Conroy will be back up with Iginla, meaning a Langkow/Huselius/Nolan second line. I'd bet dollars to donuts that that also means Jarome will be facing the tougher assignments again.
Anyways, I'll stick with the "no prediction" preview. Worked for the Phoenix game...
