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Where:
Scotiabank Saddledome (get your own name!)
Storyline:
Funny thing, this game hockey is. Late December, the Flames were but 2 points away from being cellar dwellers, the Sens were still gasping for breath - which team would rise from the ashes like a Phoenix? Well, it ain't the Sens, losers of 16 of 17, it's the Flames, winners of 7 of 8, and more importantly, have positioned themselves in a playoff position at the time I write this.
What gives? Well, the Flames decided to allow Sutter to 'step down' and a dark cloud was lifted from off the Flames. They now come to the rink and have a good time instead of constantly answering negative questions about players, acquisitions and sometimes even management. So relaxed are they that they look like the Flames many thought they'd see this year, with secondary scoring from the likes of Curtis Glencross, Rene Bourque and even Ollie Jokinen. Iginla also turned his season around, along with Kipper, who is 6-0-1 in his last 7 and is in the middle of a scorching streak.
For the Sens, it's now a very dangerous time. They're a heck of a lot better than a lottery team - but for heaven's sake, don't tell them that right now! The Sens need to look to the future, with a top draft pick in round 1 and a high draft pick in round 2 (plus whatever they get from trades).
Brian Elliott may have saved his career by finally stepping up (after allowing 3 goals) and stymieing the Canucks on the way to a very close 4-2 loss Monday. Alex Kovalev continues to pick a perfect time to play good hockey - when scouts are around to watch. Jarkko Ruutu was a scratch last game for all the good that does to his trade value and Chris Phillips will be sold based on previous performances - this year will be looked at as an anomaly.
But the real attraction on the Sens is the return of Jason Spezza. Picking up right where he left off, Spezza is decidedly harder on the puck, more defensively aware and seems intent to shoot more this time around (14 shots so far in his return). Will it be enough to get the Sens on a winning streak? Probably not - too much has gone wrong this season to suddenly wake up and start a streak - but stranger things have happened.
With the Sens' weak brothers the Oilers as an opponent this week, look for Elliott to start tonight and Lehner to get the Oil, but again, no one knows what Clouston is thinking this year, so who knows...
Tale of the tape:
LINES:
Tanguay - Morrison - Iginla
Bourque - Jokinen - Moss
Glencross - Stajan - Jackman
Kostopoulos - Backlund -Bouma
Regehr - Bouwmeester
Giordano - Sarich
S. Staois/B. Mikkelson - A. Babchuk
Kiprusoff
Karlsson
(Guess)
Foligno - Spezza - Alfredsson
Michalek - Regin - Kovalev
Ruutu Butler - Fisher - Neil
Z.Smith - O'Brien* - Shannon
Phillips - Karlsson
Gonchar - Campoli
Kuba - Carkner/Lee
Elliott
Lehner
*Apparently Butler + O'Brien have been called up.
Injuries:
OTTAWA:
Matt Carkner - day to day with a lower body injury - questionable
Pascal Leclaire - lower body - indefinite
Jesse Winchester - lower body - 2-3 weeks - will not play
CALGARY:
Nicolas Hagman - day to day, lower body injury - possible
Adam Party - neck - day to day, questionable
Raitis Ivanans - concussion, indefinite
Daymond Langkow - neck - indefinite
@ Where:
Scotiabank Saddledome (get your own name!)
Storyline:
Funny thing, this game hockey is. Late December, the Flames were but 2 points away from being cellar dwellers, the Sens were still gasping for breath - which team would rise from the ashes like a Phoenix? Well, it ain't the Sens, losers of 16 of 17, it's the Flames, winners of 7 of 8, and more importantly, have positioned themselves in a playoff position at the time I write this.
What gives? Well, the Flames decided to allow Sutter to 'step down' and a dark cloud was lifted from off the Flames. They now come to the rink and have a good time instead of constantly answering negative questions about players, acquisitions and sometimes even management. So relaxed are they that they look like the Flames many thought they'd see this year, with secondary scoring from the likes of Curtis Glencross, Rene Bourque and even Ollie Jokinen. Iginla also turned his season around, along with Kipper, who is 6-0-1 in his last 7 and is in the middle of a scorching streak.
For the Sens, it's now a very dangerous time. They're a heck of a lot better than a lottery team - but for heaven's sake, don't tell them that right now! The Sens need to look to the future, with a top draft pick in round 1 and a high draft pick in round 2 (plus whatever they get from trades).
Brian Elliott may have saved his career by finally stepping up (after allowing 3 goals) and stymieing the Canucks on the way to a very close 4-2 loss Monday. Alex Kovalev continues to pick a perfect time to play good hockey - when scouts are around to watch. Jarkko Ruutu was a scratch last game for all the good that does to his trade value and Chris Phillips will be sold based on previous performances - this year will be looked at as an anomaly.
But the real attraction on the Sens is the return of Jason Spezza. Picking up right where he left off, Spezza is decidedly harder on the puck, more defensively aware and seems intent to shoot more this time around (14 shots so far in his return). Will it be enough to get the Sens on a winning streak? Probably not - too much has gone wrong this season to suddenly wake up and start a streak - but stranger things have happened.
With the Sens' weak brothers the Oilers as an opponent this week, look for Elliott to start tonight and Lehner to get the Oil, but again, no one knows what Clouston is thinking this year, so who knows...
Tale of the tape:
LINES:
Tanguay - Morrison - Iginla
Bourque - Jokinen - Moss
Glencross - Stajan - Jackman
Kostopoulos - Backlund -Bouma
Regehr - Bouwmeester
Giordano - Sarich
S. Staois/B. Mikkelson - A. Babchuk
Kiprusoff
Karlsson
(Guess)
Foligno - Spezza - Alfredsson
Michalek - Regin - Kovalev
Z.Smith - O'Brien* - Shannon
Phillips - Karlsson
Gonchar - Campoli
Kuba - Carkner/Lee
Elliott
Lehner
*Apparently Butler + O'Brien have been called up.
Injuries:
OTTAWA:
Matt Carkner - day to day with a lower body injury - questionable
Pascal Leclaire - lower body - indefinite
Jesse Winchester - lower body - 2-3 weeks - will not play
CALGARY:
Nicolas Hagman - day to day, lower body injury - possible
Adam Party - neck - day to day, questionable
Raitis Ivanans - concussion, indefinite
Daymond Langkow - neck - indefinite
Last edited by SpezDispenser on Wed Feb 09, 2011 11:01 am; edited 2 times in total
It's true, it's been a gong show here this year.
