Well the first game of the season is finally upon us. It may be totally meaningless, featuring rosters half-filled with guys who may never play a real game in the NHL - but it's certainly welcome nonetheless.
Outside of evaluating the individual performances of the hopefuls, outcomes at this time of year aren't really indicative of anything. Meaning I tend to look at who showed up on the score sheet rather than the score itself.
No official releases regarding the line-up tonight so far. However, Rob Kerr was at the practice this morning and observed these lines:
Burtuzzi - Backlund - Iginla
Boyd- Lombardi - Bourque
Nystrom - Primeau - Prust
Glencross - Lundmark - Moss
Regehr - Sarich
Pardy - Aucoin
Negrin - Eriksson
That first line is obviously the most intriguing: I like the fact that Backlund is getting an opportunity with the big boys right off the bat. Assuming the trio remains intact for the majority of the contest, his results by the end of the night might be instructive. A good showing would be a strong step towards making this team out of camp (and making Sutter's budget woes a little more complicated).
Glencrosss, Lombardi (2nd fittest Flame this year!), Bourque and Prust are other forwards I'll be watching for (or listening to, as it were). And Bertuzzi, I guess *grumble*.
As for the back-end, Pardy and Negrin are the only notables. Notice that Phaneuf and Giordano aren't in the line-up, indicating perhaps that they'll be paired in game action down the road (good news for a guy who just picked up Gio at the end of his most recent keeper draft). Also, notice Negrin will be saddled with Bubba this evening. What's that fundamentalist thing about a couple being "unequally yolked" again? Poor kid. Hopefully he can show well anyways.
Prediction - Backlund gets a couple points.
EDIT - Flames line-up for tonight confirmed here.
