It would make sense to predict a win tonight, wouldn't it? I mean, the Thrashers sold off Hossa at the deadline and are pretty much playing out the stretch. They're terrible at defense and their lone big gun has gone pretty cold recently (As Ilya is wont to do several times a season). They're 14th in the EC and have a GD of -47 (!). Atlanta should be cannon fodder to a team like Calgary.
"Should be" being the operative phrase...because who the fuck knows what Calgary's going to do from game to game (or even period to period)? The Flames dominated the first against the Capitals, and then were completely run over after that. They've won 7 of their last 11 games, but have been grossly out-shot (and outplayed) in probably half of them. So they might come out and club Atlanta a la the St. Louis Blues, or they might come out and just totally shit the bed a la...well, last night.
It likely depends on how much ice Jarome and the big boys can play and to what degree they'll dominate. One thing that struck me last night (as it does frequently these days) is how inadequately the Flames handle a fast, aggressive forecheck (particularly our not-so-fleet of foot defenders). I don't know if Washington got more desperate or Boudreau made adjustments, but the Caps had the Flames flailing around in their own end from the middle of the 2nd period on. They frequently had 2 forwards deep whenever the puck crossed Calgary's blueline, and their defensemen were very active in pinching and engaging Calgary's wingers when (and if) the puck finally made it's way to them. The result? shift after shift of action in Calgary's zone, usually punctuated by a scoring chance, a penalty against, or exhausted Flames skaters flipping the puck out and hurrying to change. That meant lots of PK time, lots of shots against and not a lot of quality ice for the big guns (thus the total lack of offense at ES).
I guess we have to hope the Thrashers will be too downtrodden to forecheck aggressively. Even better, maybe they'll try to trap all night.
Other stuff:
Not sure if CuJo gets the start or not. It would certainly make sense given the back-to-backness of the situation and his decent past performances. Course, Keenan might REALLY REALLY want to win this game and will put Kipper in instead (he was excellent last night despite the loss BTW).
Does Moss finally draw in instead of...err...someone? Primeau would be my pick to sit, I think. David isn't going to up the offense quotient of the Lombardi line much, but at least he can skate. Other press box candidates include Nilson and Boyd I guess, assuming Godard remains a fixture in the line-up for whatever reason.
Prediction - Flames play one good period of hockey and one terrible period of hockey.
