The Wild and Flames are two clubs headed in opposite directions. After a hot start, Minnesota has stooped to getting booed in their own building while the Flames have garnered points in something like 7 straight games and are now in first in the NW division.
The problem with Minny is predictable and obvious: they can't score. Like any Lemaire helmed squad, they have elite special teams but that just isn't enough if you can't do anything at ES. Mikko Koivu has taken the next step and has quietly become an elite center in the NHL, but there isn't much past him. Nolan is old and injured. Brunette is - at best - a capable support player. Mienttinen has never scored more than 15 goals in the NHL. Bouchard, Pouliot, Sheppard etc. aren't up to much. Gaborik, of course, has talent enough to turn the tide but the dude is made out of tissue paper: he's missed 95% of the season already and is being held out of tonight's contest for "precautionary" reasons.
Oh yeah...Minnesota played (and lost) last night in Chicago. They're also limited to 5 defensemen, due to a Kim Johnsson personal matter. And I can't remember the last time the Wild beat Calgary at the dome. I won't go so far as to guarantee a win tonight, but...
So it's almost all good news in Flames country right now. Bourque is cruising along. Boyd is getting a promotion. Adam Pardy is looking like a legit defender. Langkow is absolutely lights out in terms of driving possession. The PP has looked much better recently and the PK continues to get the job done. The club is also in the middle of a cozy little home-stand, one populated by lesser opponents (Edmonton is up next after Minny). If Calgary could get Glencross back and Jarome on a roll, it would be full steam ahead.
Anyways, here are the potential lines for tonight according to Inside the Flames:
Cammalleri-Conroy-Iginla
Lombardi-Langkow-Bertuzzi
Bourque-Boyd-Moss
pluggers
More to my liking, although...Conroy on the first line...
Also, the 4th line becomes a giant liability with Sutter centering it. In this configuration, I can't imagine the pluggers getting anything more than 5 minutes of ice tonight. Not a big deal, however.
The top 3 lines certainly look stronger, but this isn't what I'd call my ideal line-up. Here's my fantasy combos:
Bourque-Langkow-Iginla
A top line that can take on anybody and would be fierce on offensive zone draws. The puck would probably never leave the good end of the rink. Also, has anyone noticed that the Flames almost always score when Iginla and Bourque are on the ice together?
Cammalleri-Lombardi-Bertuzzi
Play these guys against the softies and let them eat them up. The goodfellas showed some promise during the preseason and I find it curious that Keenan hasn't given the trio a bit of a try during the regular season.
Boyd-Conroy-Moss
A fairly good third line with outscoring potential and a decent ability to get the puck moving in the right direction
Pluggers
Of course, the re-introduction of Glencross would mess things up, but this is what I'd like to see in the short term. Comments? Criticisms?
Prediction - Calgary 3, Minnesota 1. Iginla (2) and Boyd for the Flames. Burns for the Wild.
Update - Apparently Wild blogger Nick is live-blogging the game tonight. Feel free to head over and give him a hard time.
