conundrumed Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 Calgary Flames @ Chicago Blackhawks United Center - 1pm MST Watch Live on SN - All Regions; Listen Live on FAN960 Listen Live 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conundrumed Posted January 7 Author Report Share Posted January 7 Comedic Interlude... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conundrumed Posted January 7 Author Report Share Posted January 7 Battered Blackhawks look to cool off Flames By Field Level Media Here come the Chicago Blackhawks -- wobbly and wounded and without their top scorer, but home nonetheless. After enduring a harrowing road trip that saw them lose all five games in addition to multiple players, the Blackhawks are set to return to United Center against the Calgary Flames on Sunday. Rookie forward Connor Bedard headlines the list of inactives. Bedard left midway through the first period of Friday's 4-2 loss at New Jersey after taking a hit from Devils defenseman Brendan Smith. Bedard, the top overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft who leads Chicago with 33 points, skated off while holding his face. On Saturday, the Blackhawks announced Bedard had suffered a fractured jaw and placed him on injured reserve. "It's definitely hard to wrap our heads around," Chicago's Ryan Donato said. "It's so fresh still for us to realize what's going on, but we hope the best for him and hopefully we can keep the guys positive." Teammate Nick Foligno also was placed on injured reserve with a fractured left finger sustained during a second-period fight with Smith. Taylor Raddysh (groin), Tyler Johnson (right foot), and Anthony Beauvillier (left wrist) left games with injuries earlier in the trip. "I think that's the NHL. It's the next-man-up mentality," Chicago defenseman Jarred Tinordi said. "You look around the league, we're not the only team going through it right now. If you look at our roster, it looks like we're going through it maybe a little bit worse than others, but I think we have to step up, myself included." Calgary is aiming to secure a winning record on its four-game trip. The Flames fell to the host Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Saturday afternoon after winning at Minnesota and Nashville by a combined count of 9-4. The Flames got goals from Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar and a 39-save effort from Jakob Markstrom on Saturday. Travis Konecny's short-handed goal in the third period stood up as the game-winner. "The first period was OK, but I thought the second and third, we got outworked," Calgary coach Ryan Huska said. "They were the better team. ... The first period, I thought we got off to a good start, and then the second and third period, Jakob was the reason why this game was close." The Flames have won six of their past nine games after a slow start. Weegar's goal against the Flyers was his ninth, already a career high with more than half the season to play. Calgary hopes to revamp its attack against Chicago after sputtering in Philadelphia. "You've got to leave it behind," Huska said. "I mean, we have another game (Sunday). We want to come home with a really solid road record on this trip, so it's an important game for us. We have to turn our attention to Chicago." Sunday marks the first of three meetings between the Blackhawks and Flames this season. Calgary is set to host Chicago on Jan. 27 before the teams meet again at United Center on March 26. Dancing for Rain: Blackhawks vs. Flames Preview By Second City Hockey Just about everything which could go wrong for the Blackhawks has done just that in the last month or so, with the misery finding another gear on Friday night as Connor Bedard suffered a fractured jaw that sent him to injured reserve and will have him out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, including Sunday afternoon’s game against the Calgary Flames. Chicago enters this game on a five-game losing streak, part of a 13-game stretch in which the Blackhawks have just two victories. With Bedard among the plethora of Chicago forwards on injured reserve, the team added a few warm bodies on Saturday who’ll likely do nothing more than inspire the deep cuts for a round of “Let’s Remember Some Guys” several years down the road. The situation is not as bleak in Calgary, although it’s hard to describe the Flames’ situation as “good,” either. Calgary has 39 points in 39 games, good for sixth place in the Pacific Division and just two points shy of the second wild card spot in the west. Its offense isn’t exactly flourishing, although the Flames do have eight players with at least 20 points already this season, led by Blake Coleman’s 30 points (15 G, 15 A) and Nazem Kadri’s 28 (11 G, 17 A). The primary development there is that Jonathan Huberdeau is down at 11th on the team with just 18 points (6 G, 12 A) in 39 games after cashing in on a 115-point season in 2021-22 to the tune of an 8-year, $84 million contract. But Huberdeau had just 55 points in 79 games last season and is even farther off that pace this season, nowhere near the level of production Calgary was seeking when it traded for and then signed Huberdeau in the summer of 2022. Veteran Jacob Markstrom is the primary option in net, sporting a 10-11-2 record, .908 save percentage and 2.67 goals-against average. Those numbers are fine enough, as backup Daniel Vladar (6-4-2, .888, 3.36) hasn’t grabbed the reins during his third season with Calgary since coming over in a trade out of Boston. With Markstrom playing 24 hours prior, this seems like a start for Vladar. Overall, Calgary seems a bit like a team adrift in the seas of the NHL at the moment: not really bad enough to fall into the lottery and land a franchise-turning draft pick but also likely not good enough to be considered a serious Cup contender. The Flames have won six of their last nine games entering this one — although the most recent outing was a 3-2 loss to the Flyers in Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon — but even that solid stretch has them toiling in mediocrity in the West. Tale of the Tape Blackhawks — Statistic — Flames 43.85% (31st) — 5-on-5 Corsi For — 50.95% (11th) 41.66% (32nd) — 5-on-5 Expected goals for — 50.47% (15th) 2.31 (31st) — Goals per game — 3.03 (t-20th) 3.77 (31st) — Goals against per game — 3.15 (t-18th) 45.0% (32nd) — Faceoffs — 51.0% (11th) 13.0% (29th) — Power play — 12.1% (30th) 74.8% (t-26th) — Penalty kill — 84.7% (5th) Today's edition of, "Songs That You Forgot You Knew"... Go Flames Go! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conundrumed Posted January 7 Author Report Share Posted January 7 Hate to pick on a player, but it is one that I over-supported. Dillon Dube is at 19 games without a point. His last point was on Nov. 24th, an assist vs Dallas in our 7-4 win. His last goal was 24 games ago. Nov. 16th in a 5-2 win over Vancouver. He's only -1 in that time, so there is that. Is he worth anything more than league minimum next season, or an easily replaceable 4th line bubble player at this point? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robrob74 Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 31 minutes ago, conundrumed said: Hate to pick on a player, but it is one that I over-supported. Dillon Dube is at 19 games without a point. His last point was on Nov. 24th, an assist vs Dallas in our 7-4 win. His last goal was 24 games ago. Nov. 16th in a 5-2 win over Vancouver. He's only -1 in that time, so there is that. Is he worth anything more than league minimum next season, or an easily replaceable 4th line bubble player at this point? he's going to break out with three points today now that you've mentioned him... ya, I think maybe as a PK specialist only? He's not great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfire11 Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 Gotta look at the bright side The goal against wasn't the first shot on net, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conundrumed Posted January 7 Author Report Share Posted January 7 OMG they're playing Rufus, I love that song!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medatswhoP Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 If thats goalie interference then almost every goal should be that. WTF! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conundrumed Posted January 7 Author Report Share Posted January 7 Can't possibly lose to this roster, right??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conundrumed Posted January 7 Author Report Share Posted January 7 Bleh, score 10 more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medatswhoP Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 2 minutes ago, conundrumed said: Bleh, score 10 more... Blatant farce, gotta call anything then that touches a goalie no matter then. Whats the point of rushing the net now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conundrumed Posted January 7 Author Report Share Posted January 7 Easy as that all tied up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travel_dude Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 1 hour ago, conundrumed said: Hate to pick on a player, but it is one that I over-supported. Dillon Dube is at 19 games without a point. His last point was on Nov. 24th, an assist vs Dallas in our 7-4 win. His last goal was 24 games ago. Nov. 16th in a 5-2 win over Vancouver. He's only -1 in that time, so there is that. Is he worth anything more than league minimum next season, or an easily replaceable 4th line bubble player at this point? I think we waited too long to trade him, as his value has plummeted from Bennett level (sort of) to Rooney level. There is still a market for teams that look at the player usage and linemates and consider him needing a change. He's probably worth a 2nd or a depth defender. Toronto should be looking at him as he would be a better 2 way player than some of their lineup. BT probably has his eye on him. Perhaps the WJC unknown is holding up any trades of any of those players. It's not a knock on the player, just that teams won't take a chance on an unknown player situation. At least that's the way I read it. Radio silence on that whole front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travel_dude Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 49 minutes ago, medatswhoP said: Blatant farce, gotta call anything then that touches a goalie no matter then. Whats the point of rushing the net now? I personally hate the coach challenges. Every goal scored they look at their tablets. Some coaches get 2 minutes to decide. The guys on the ice make mistakes, but it's as likely to even out over the course of a game. Real time matters. Toronto has no context when they review. The only reviewa I think should be done are the goal calls and the major/minor reviews. The missed stoppage is BS. The offside is questionable at best unless obvious. The goaltender calls are a joke, no standard used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conundrumed Posted January 7 Author Report Share Posted January 7 14 minutes ago, travel_dude said: He's probably worth a 2nd or a depth defender. I would say not even maybe. He really has no value. Pretty much a throw in. The league and the A is littered with 4th liners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conundrumed Posted January 7 Author Report Share Posted January 7 Jeez, let's have a close game vs the Rockford IceHogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travel_dude Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 I didn't realize that they sat Ruzicka after the last game, where I thought he was playing well. FFS, sit Dube. And Oesterle. Not the biggest issues with this team, but if you aren't pulling on the rope, then pushing doesn't help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travel_dude Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 I must say that the Backlund line continues to be the one driving play. Mangiapane has come back after joining it. Top line has ups and downs. Kadri is a little less effective some games. 4th line is good and bad. This should be the game where they have a big impact. CHI depth is non-existant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flames for life Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 I'm feeling sorry for Vladar; it's hard to play against t 2 teams at the same time! Seriously though, Calgary appears to have gone home one game too soon. Aside from Mangie, Backlund and Kadri, no one else seems to want to play today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travel_dude Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 3 minutes ago, flames for life said: I'm feeling sorry for Vladar; it's hard to play against t 2 teams at the same time! Seriously though, Calgary appears to have gone home one game too soon. Aside from Mangie, Backlund and Kadri, no one else seems to want to play today! Two own goals off Flames sticks. One as a result of a marginal D man pinching and losing coverage on the backtrack. Yesterday was one thing, where the saves looked really good and there were lots of them. The team sucked but the goalie kept them in it. Today, one line and a couple D showed up. Maybe one goal you could "blame" on the goalie not stopping it. Perfect shot from the slot that you don't have enough time to take away the angle. Time to shake up the roster. Anyone on the D not named Gilbert should get sent down. Dube is pointless, in more ways that one. Coronato, Pettersen and Kerins playing well. If you bring in Coronato for a 4th line role with Greer and Ruzie, he might fit. You can shelter him there. Or Pettersen. Whatever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travel_dude Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfire11 Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 Yup times like this I see us vying for 1st OA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travel_dude Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 Pretty sad where the go ahead goal was scored with 4th line and 3rd pairing on against the top Hawks line. Greer the only one of that group that belongs on a NHL roster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travel_dude Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 Typical PP. Keeping the puck on the side has has been overloaded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travel_dude Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 30th ranked PP soon to be passed by another sad team. You could predict every pass they make before they drop the puck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now