Leafs @ Flames - Mar. 13th, 8:00pm - TSN4, Fan 590

[CarltonTheBear]

@

27-35-6, 60 pts | 37-25-5, 79 pts

Projected Lines

Lupul-Bozak-Kessel JVR-Holland-Panik   Komarov-Smith-Booth  Lindstrom-Sill-Kozun Gardiner-Phaneuf Brewer-Rielly MacWilliam-Brennan Bernier ​

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler Bouma-Backlund-Jones Raymond-Jooris-Colborne Bollig-Stajan-Ferland Russell-Wideman Brodie-Engelland Schlemko-Diaz Hiller​

Scratches

Tim Erixon Nazem Kadri ​

Emile Poirier Corey Potter Drew Shore​

Game Notes

TOR
?Bernier likely starts for the Leafs
?T.J. Brennan was called up and is expected to play his first game as a Leaf. Reports from practice were that he and his 100 MPH slapshot were practicing on the top PP unit
?With Brennan coming in I'm guessing it'll be Erixon who sits, although we'll have to wait on that
?Kadri will sit for his second of three games tonight Kadri will sit for his 3rd and final game tonight

CGY
?Hiller will start for the Flames
?The Flames are 4-0-1 in their past 5 games and are desperately clinging to a playoff spot at this point

Injuries

?Roman Polak - Hernia - Out for season ?Stephane Robidas - Shoulder - Out for season​

?Mark Giordano - Bicep - Out for season ?Paul Byron - Lower Body - Injured Reserve ?Ladislav Smid - Upper Body - Injured Reserve  ​

Stream Options

http://www.reddit.com/r/NHLstreams
http://vaughnlive.tv/leafstreamer
http://ourleafs.blogspot.ca/
​

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

Great job as per usual.

I believe this is the third game already and that Kadri is likely to return tomorrow barring any further disciplinary action.

 

[Boston Leaf]

Give the Sill line 20 minutes

 

[Crucialness Key]

Great job as per usual.

I believe this is the third game already and that Kadri is likely to return tomorrow barring any further disciplinary action.

I was pretty sure this was Kadri's third game suspended too...

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I believe this is the third game already and that Kadri is likely to return tomorrow barring any further disciplinary action.

Bah, when you're barely watching the games it's tough to keep up. Thanks.

 

[pmrules]

Wow...the Flames are 19 points ahead of us in the standings.  I never would have imagined that on paper at the beginning of the season.

*Kick me while I'm down why don't ya*

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Wow...the Flames are 19 points ahead of us in the standings.  I never would have imagined that on paper at the beginning of the season.

*Kick me while I'm down why don't ya*

They're likely not as extreme as Colorado last season, but they're running on smoke and mirrors right now.  They might sustain it into the playoffs, but at some point their SH% will come down a bit and getting outchanced will catch up to them.

 

[cw]

Wow...the Flames are 19 points ahead of us in the standings.  I never would have imagined that on paper at the beginning of the season.

*Kick me while I'm down why don't ya*

They're likely not as extreme as Colorado last season, but they're running on smoke and mirrors right now.  They might sustain it into the playoffs, but at some point their SH% will come down a bit and getting outchanced will catch up to them.

I'm not sold on them as well.

Another team I have not bought into since before the season started: Detroit Red Wings.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

From Friedman's 30 thoughts this week:

20. Other coaches say it?s not a surprise the Flames are not an analytics darling, since they try to hit the long-pass home run more than any other team in the league.

When it works, it?s spectacular, but when it doesn?t, it?s either an icing, or you?re letting the opponent regroup with the puck. Either way, it?s not a formula for outshooting people.

Hmmmm reminds me of a team I used to know.

 

[Palmateer29]

Wow...the Flames are 19 points ahead of us in the standings.  I never would have imagined that on paper at the beginning of the season.

*Kick me while I'm down why don't ya*

They're likely not as extreme as Colorado last season, but they're running on smoke and mirrors right now.  They might sustain it into the playoffs, but at some point their SH% will come down a bit and getting outchanced will catch up to them.

Sorry but the Flames are hardly running on smoke and mirrors. Living in Calgary I really don't like them but I would take Hartley in a heart beat. They have had good goaltending all season from 3 different goalies, their young players are stepping up; Gaudreau has the most rookie point since Iggy, Monahan is a 2nd year 25 goal scorer and Hartley has them playing their asses off. Hard work makes up for a lot of inconsistencies and less talent (on paper). They wouldn't be where they are if it was all luck or smoke and mirrors sorry.   

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Wow...the Flames are 19 points ahead of us in the standings.  I never would have imagined that on paper at the beginning of the season.

*Kick me while I'm down why don't ya*

They're likely not as extreme as Colorado last season, but they're running on smoke and mirrors right now.  They might sustain it into the playoffs, but at some point their SH% will come down a bit and getting outchanced will catch up to them.

Sorry but the Flames are hardly running on smoke and mirrors. Living in Calgary I really don't like them but I would take Hartley in a heart beat. They have had good goaltending all season from 3 different goalies, their young players are stepping up; Gaudreau has the most rookie point since Iggy, Monahan is a 2nd year 25 goal scorer and Hartley has them playing their asses off. Hard work makes up for a lot of inconsistencies and less talent (on paper). They wouldn't be where they are if it was all luck or smoke and mirrors sorry. 

This is a good explanation of where they are right now: http://flamesnation.ca/2015/3/12/why-the-2014-15-calgary-flames-are-not-the-2013-14-colorado-avalanche

So over the course from year one of the rebuild to year two, the Flames have marginally improved offensively, and marginally declined defensively. The biggest reasons for their increase in the standings this season has been the addition of competent goaltending, and the sudden jump of team shooting percentage from 9.2% (12th in the league) to 10.5% (second).

Bob Hartley is in his third season as Flames head coach, and with his extension signed earlier in the season, will probably still be here a few years yet. All three of his Flames teams have been at the bottom of the league for shot generation. If the Flames are going to improve and become contenders, that's going to have to change.

League shooting average is typically around 9.0%. If the Flames fall next season, it's likely going to be because they stop scoring at their current rate. After all, the Flames currently have 197 goals; if they were shooting at 9.0%, they'd have 165 goals. The +22 goal differential they're currently sporting - best in the Pacific - would drop to -10. Teams with negative goal differentials typically aren't playoff teams.

When their SH% inevitably falls, they're going to have to find a way to generate more chances or it likely won't be pretty for them.  Again, won't be as dramatic as Colorado likely, but will still probably fall.

 

[Kaberle15]

No points please.

 

[freer]

I am expecting a blow out this evening. Happy day for tank nation

 

[Highlander]

Lets tank :-[

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Looking forward to watching Johnny Hockey.

 

[freer]

From Twitter, Reimer get the start tonight

 

[LuncheonMeat]

Looking forward to watching Johnny Hockey.

I am, too. He's 21 years old, 5'9" and 150 pounds (I wonder if this causes the bees to buzz in Burke's head), and he's put up 18 goals and 32 assists in 66 games so far.  Not bad!  If he can avoid injury, he should be quite the player. 

 

[Kin]

Clearly Bernier's win earned him a spot on the bench.

 

[herman]

Clearly Bernier's win earned him a spot on the bench.

Pretty sure no one will notice.

 

[Highlander]

We have some good small players in our system, the game is only going to get faster and faster, everyone is going to have to be able to skate and keep up.
Are you listening Pylon?