Game Preview: Flames vs Dallas Stars

CALGARY FLAMES (34-26-15 83 points) vs. DALLAS STARS (40-29-5 85 points) GAME 76

PREVIEW:

Motivation to write this preview for today’s afternoon clash between the Flames and Dallas Stars is pretty low to say the least. The disappointment of Thursdays loss to the Minnesota Wild along with the Flames current four game losing skid, where the team has lost to the bottom three teams in the West, still lingers inside of me and many Flames fans. With 6 games remaining and still only two points out of a playoff spot, the Flames still have a chance. This afternoon’s matinee kicks-off a crucial home and home series between the Flames and Stars as both teams are fighting tooth and nail to make the playoffs. The Stars have won both match-ups against the Flames this season as both games were 3-2 and both needed extra time (OT on Feb. 16^th, SO on Mar. 4^th).

If the Flames playoff hopes aren’t already squashed after shooting themselves in the foot during their current four game losing streak, nothing less than two wins against the Stars would completely finish them. Jarome Iginla, currently on a 4 game pointless streak and Olli Jokinen, currently on a 6 game pointless streak, better wake up for the Flames to have any chance in these final six games. Miikka Kiprusoff, who was once again fantastic in the SO loss against the Wild Thursday night, has a 1.51 GAA in his last five starts and has a 2.37 GAA against the Stars this season.

The Stars have also struggled in their last four games, going 1-3-0 and dropping from the Pacific Division lead and 3^rd place in the West to the 8^th and final playoff spot. The Stars, who will play their 75^th game tonight, have two games in hand on the 9^th place Colorado Avalanche and are 1 point up on the 10^th place San Jose Sharks. After a stretch where the Stars went a remarkable 10-0-1 from Feb, 21^st-Mar. 13^th, the Stars offense has dried up as they have managed two or fewer goals in five of the last six contests.

I vented by frustration in my 1-800-FAT-LADY article Thursday night and I don’t really have much more to say from that. Reports from Minnesota Thursday night said Brent Sutter was hot after the game, so hot Jay Feaster had to come cool him down and get Assistant Coach Craig Hartsburg to take questions from the media. I don’t like what Sutter did in the SO but I really wonder if he has simply lost patience with this group of players. You never give up, doesn’t matter what sport you’re playing or how hopeless it seems. The Flames have a big test these next two games against Dallas and I think we will see the true colors of this team. I don’t think they have a chance but for the 100^th time I’ve said it, I hope they prove me wrong.

Take note puck-drop is at noon today.

PROJECTED LINES:

Flames:                                                                        Stars:

1- TANGUAY-STAJAN-IGINLA                                     1- ERIKSSON-RIBEIRO-RYDER

2- GLENCROSS-JOKINEN-MOSS                              2- MORROW-BENN-OTT

3- COMEAU-JONES-STEMPNIAK                              3- NYSTROM-FIDDLER-DVORAK

4- BOUMA-KOSTOPOULOS-JACKMAN                     4- DOWELL-WANDELL-BURISH

1- BOUWMEESTER-BUTLER                                      1- GOLIGOSKI-LARSEN

2- GIORDANO-HANNAN                                              2- ROBIDAS-SOURAY

3- BABCHUK-WILSON                                                 3- DALEY-PARDY

1- KIPRUSOFF                                                              1- LEHTONEN

2- KARLSSON                                                               2- BACHMAN

EXTRA- HORAK                                                            EXTRA- GARBUTT, VINCOUR, BENN

INJURIES:

Flames: D- Derek Smith (Upper Body- Day-to-Day), D- Cory Sarich (Upper Body- Day-to-Day), D- T.J Brodie (Upper Body- Day-to-Day), C- Mike Cammalleri (Upper Body- Day-to-Day), C- Mikael Backlund (Upper Body- IR)

Stars: D- Mark Fistric (Strained Abdominal Muscle- Day-to-Day)

STATS:

Flames

Stars

PP-

Flames: 17.6% (14^th)

Stars: 14.7% (28^th)

PK-

Flames: 83.6% (10^th)

Stars: 83.6% (9^th)

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS:

DID YOU KNOW?

• Last ten games: Flames 5-1-4, Stars 7-3-0
• Offense can be blamed for the Flames current four game losing streak. During the stretch, the Flames have only managed to score 5 goals. During the Flames most recent five game winning streak, the team tallied 21 goals, showing how important the Flames top players are in their success.
• The Flames scored their first 5 on 3 PP goal Thursday night against the Wild off a booming shot from the point by Anton Babchuk.
• This will be the first home-and-home series between the Flames and Stars since the 2000-01 season.
• Miikka Kiprusoff (309 wins) and Kari Lehtonen (164 wins) are the two winningest Finish born goaltenders in NHL history. The team also share the identical .914 career SV%.
• Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen has a 1.89 GAA against the Flames this season.
• The Stars are tied with the Chicago Blackhawks for most players with 55 or more points this season with 4 (Loui Eriksson, Michael Ryder, Jamie Benn and Mike Ribeiro).
• This afternoon is also a special one In Dallas as they will have a ceremony to remember the late Karlis Skrastins, who was involved in the tragic Russian airplane accident this summer. The Stars have worn a “37” sticker on their helmets all season to honor Skrastins.

GAME DAY QUOTE:

"It's just frustrating… All around it feels like a big letdown and we got to figure it out before we play Dallas."

– Flames Blake Comeau

Follow me on Twitter: @NickSymon