Game Preview: Flames vs Dallas Stars

CALGARY FLAMES (34-27-15 83 points) vs. DALLAS STARS (41-29-5 87 points) GAME 77

PREVIEW:

Pride is about the only thing on the line for the Flames at this point as they wrap up their home-and-home against the Stars tonight at the Scotia bank Saddledome. This will be the fourth and final meeting between the squads with the Stars looking for a season sweep of the Flames after defeating them 4-1 on Saturday afternoon in Dallas. The loss all but squashed the Flames playoff hopes as they now sit three points back of the three-way tie for 8^th spot between the Kings, Sharks and Avalanche. The win on the other hand, got the Stars back on track after they had dropped three straight and out of the Pacific Division lead. The Stars are back atop the Pacific but are still tied with the Coyotes with 87 points. The Stars should get some post-season play; it’s just a matter if they will start at home or on the road.

The Flames need to win out in their final six games and get a ton of help for any chance to be playing April 11^th. These final six games could set the tone for next season as GM Jay Feaster and the rest of the Flames organization will have some tough decisions to make this summer. Saturday’s game in Dallas, in my mind, summed up the Flames season. They played really well at some points but they had a couple breakdowns which ended up in the back of their net. Those breakdowns, along with the lack of the Flames scoring during their five game losing streak shows why the Flames aren’t good enough for the post-season dance.

Watching the Stars this season, I can’t say how impressed I’ve been with Kari Lehtonen. Drafted 2^nd overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, injuries derailed Lehtonen’s career early and many wondered if they guy could ever stay healthy. Now that health isn’t a concern, Lehtonen has showed why he was worthy of that 2^nd overall pick.  Lehtonen made 35 saves in the win against the Flames on Saturday and was no doubt the first star. Lehtonen is 10-2-1 in his last 13 starts with a 1.65 GAA.

Another frustrating season looks to be winding down for the Flames as they look like they will miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The Flames welcomed back Mike Cammalleri to the line-up on Saturday and it paid immediate dividends, as Cammalleri scored the Flames only goal. It has been an injury plagued and under-achieving season for Cammalleri but I expect him to be much better and to be the old Cammalleri we all know next season. Miikka Kiprusoff who probably deserved at least a Vezina nomination if they Flames sneaked into the playoffs, was nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy by the Calgary Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The Masterton is awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Let’s hope the Flames do in fact play with some pride and show something to look forward to next season.

PROJECTED LINES:

Flames:                                                                        Stars:

1- TANGUAY-CAMMALLERI-IGINLA                           1- ERIKSSON-RIBEIRO-RYDER

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

3- COMEAU-STAJAN-STEMPNIAK                             3- NYSTROM-FIDDLER-DVORAK

4- KOSTOPOULOS-JONES-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- BOUMA, 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- Mikael Backlund (Upper Body- IR)

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

STATS:

Flames

Stars

PP-

Flames: 17.3% (15^th)

Stars: 14.5% (28^th)

PK-

Flames: 83.8% (10^th)

Stars: 83.9% (9^th)

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS:

DID YOU KNOW?

• Last ten games: Flames 5-2-3, Stars 7-3-0
• The Flames will try to avoid their first six-game losing streak since a 0-6-3 stretch from Jan. 11-28^th, 2010.
• During the Flames current five game skid (0-2-3), the Flames lackluster offense has only managed to score 6 goals.
• In the Flames last 13 games at the Dome; Miikka Kiprusoff is 7-2-4 with a 2.44 GAA.
• The Flames PP could be pointed at for the Flames struggles against the Stars this season as they have gone 0 for 10 in the last three games and haven’t scored against the Stars PK since Feb, 16, 2011.
• Olli Jokinen, who missed the morning skate but is expected to play, had his pointless streak extended to 7 games on Saturday. Jokinen is set to become a UFA at the end of the season and early season talk of possibly getting 5+ million dollars better be out the window.
• The Stars have a chance to sweep the season series against the Flames for the first time since 2003-04.
• The Stars have a 13-4-0 record against Northwest Division teams and a 10-2-1 record against Canadian teams this season.
• Michael Ryder has been one of the hottest players since the All-Star break with 16 goals. Only Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos (20) and Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin (19) have more.
• Mike Ribeiro has earned a point in eight consecutive games against the Flames.
• Stars Captain, Brendan Morrow will play in his 800^th career NHL game tonight.

GAME DAY QUOTE:

"Sometimes it's easier to get on the road this time of the year and just kind of let loose for a road swing and just kind of put pressure on other teams in their buildings that have to win games, so I think the road trip comes at a good time for us because our game isn't quite where it should be and we can get away and get it to where it needs to be."

 – Stars Head Coach Glen Gulutzan

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