Game Preview: Flames vs Minnesota Wild

CALGARY FLAMES (31-25-12 74 points) vs. MINNESOTA WILD (29-29-10 68 points) GAME 69

PREVIEW:

Injuries have been the big story for both teams all season long as the Flames head into Minnesota to face the Wild this afternoon. This will be the fifth of six meetings between the clubs as the Flames have taken three straight over the Wild. Minnesota has been on a downward spiral ever since they had a league best 20-7-3 record on Dec. 10^th, now sitting in 13^th spot in the Western Conference and 8 points out of the final playoff spot. The Flames on the other hand, while being inconsistent have gone on a nice run recently, going 3-1-1 in their past five games and now only sit 2 points back of the 8^th seeded Colorado Avalanche with two games in hand.

The Flames had a good three game homestand, collecting 5 of a possible 6 points as they will look to continue that success this afternoon in Minnesota. Even with the rash of injuries up front (7 regulars out), the Flames have played a solid team game and haven’t had any issues scoring goals. The Flames have been led by their best players up front, most notably Alex Tanguay and Curtis Glencross, as the top two lines have seen increased minutes with the slew of injuries.

As mentioned earlier the Wild have come back to reality after their 20-7-3 start, winning only 9 of their 38 games since then. The Wild like the Flames have been hampered by injuries but just don’t have the depth like the Flames do, to keep pace in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. The Wild have been outscored 120-65 in the past four months and since their last meeting against the Flames on Jan. 7^th, where they sat in 6^th place, have gone 8-14-4. Minnesota is quickly running out of time as their task to make the playoffs isn’t going to get any easier having to jump over four teams, including the Flames to snag that 8^th and final playoff spot.

As much as injuries can’t be used as an excuse, and haven’t been used in the Flames organization, I must say I am extremely impressed with the Flames depth this season and how they have stuck in contention with all their injuries. Their depth will be tested once again tonight, as T.J. Brodie suffered an upper body injury against the Jets and didn’t make the trip to Minny. Anton Babchuk will take his spot in the line-up. The Flames looked much better in their two victories against the Canadiens and Jets last week but like always, it comes down to consistency and whether they can take two steps toward without taking a step back. This afternoon’s game, like the remaining 13 games for the Flames, is a must win. With all the injured Wild players, including number-one centre Mikko Koivu and number-one goalie Niklas Backstrom, the Flames have to take advantage while not looking past them and get the 2 points. With a victory this afternoon, the Flames can jump into a tie with the Avalanche and take over 8^th spot in the West with a game in hand on Colorado. The task continues to get harder as the games wind down and it’s all up to the Flames leaders to make sure the job gets done and their playing past the first week of April.

PROJECTED LINES:

Flames:                                                                        Wild:

1-TANGUAY-STAJAN-IGINLA                                      1-HEATLEY-CULLEN-SETOGUCHI

2-GLENCROSS-JOKINEN-MOSS                               2-POWE-BRODZIAK-JOHNSON

3-KOSTOPOULOS-NEMISZ-BAERTSCHI                  3-PALMIERI-PETERS-ORTMEYER

4-KOLANOS-HORAK-DESBIENS                                4-VEILLEUX-CHRISTENSEN-KASSIAN

1-BOUWMEESTER-SMITH                                         1-SCANDELLA-GILBERT

2-GIORDANO-HANNAN                                              2-FALK-SPURGEON

3-BABCHUK-SARICH                                                  3-PROSSER-KAMPFER

1-KIPRUSOFF                                                              1-HACKETT

2-KARLSSON                                                               2-HARDING

EXTRA-                                                                        EXTRA- FOSTER

INJURIES:

Flames: D- T.J Brodie (Upper Body- Day-to-Day), RW- Tim Jackman (Undisclosed- Day-to-Day), C- Mike Cammalleri (Upper Body- Day-to-Day), LW Lance Bouma (Upper Body- Day-to-Day), RW Blake Comeau (Shoulder- Day-to-Day) Chris Butler (Lower Body- IR), C- Mikael Backlund (Upper Body- IR), C- Blair Jones (Ankle- IR), RW- Lee Stempniak (Ankle- IR)

Wild: D- Clayton Stoner (Lower Body- IR), C- Mikko Koivu (Undisclosed- IR), LW- Cal Clutterbuck (Upper Body- Day-to-Day), G Niklas Backstrom (Lower Body- Out Indefinitely), LW Pierre-Marc Bouchard (Concussion- IR), LW Guillaume Latendresse (Concussion- IR), RW- Jarod Palmer (Upper Body- IR), D- Mike Lundin (Lower Body- IR)

STATS:

Flames

Wild

PP-

Flames: 18.2% (12^th)

Wild: 14.8% (28^th)

PK-

Flames: 82.8% (11^th)

Wild: 82.6% (13^th)

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS:

DID YOU KNOW?

• Last ten games: Flames 4-3-3, Wild 4-5-1
• Alex Tanguay has been huge for the Flames in his past 8 games, collecting 4 goals and 13 points during that stretch.
• Curtis Glencross continues to put the puck in the net as his goal Friday against the Jets, increased his scoring streak to 6 games.
• Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff has both been Mr. Consistent for the Flames, as Iginla has recorded 28 or more goals in 13 straight seasons, while Kiprusoff has recorded 30 wins in seven consecutive seasons.
• Since the Flames and Wild last meeting that has seen the Wild drop from 6^th spot to 13^th in the West, the Flames have gone 13-6-7 and jumped from 6 points out to just two.
• The Flames-Wild series has flipped flopped in the past 7 games. The Flames have won the past three meeting against the Wild, outscoring the Wild 10-4. Before that the Wild had beat the Flames 4 straight times.
• Kiprusoff has had success against the Wild in his career posting a 2.02 GAA and .923 SV% while his 27 wins in 47 appearances are the most by any goalie against the Wild.
• Sven Baertschi became the 25^th teenager to suit up for the Flames Friday night against the Jets. Baertschi is only the second teen dressed by the Flames since 2000, the other being Mikael Backlund.
• The Flames have lost 311 man games due to injury this season.
• The Wild have used league high 44 skaters this season including another league high, 13 rookies.
• The Flames should feel fortunate as rookie Matt Hackett will get the start for the Wild tonight with Niklas Backstrom sitting out with an injury. Backstrom is 13-9-5 in 31 games against the Flames with a 1.91 GAA, a .932 SV% and five shutouts.
• The Wild have just a single win in their last five games, being outscored 22-8 during that span.
• Connections between the two teams: Flames Tim Jackman played at Park Center High School in Minnesota and spent two seasons at Minnesota State University. Wild defensemen, Kurtis Foster was originally drafted by the Flames, 40^th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

GAME DAY QUOTE:

"I think our game plan has to be about checking and making them make mistakes… if we get a good, solid effort by five guys on the ice - playing in both ends of the rink - again, we can frustrate them. They are a good team and they may have struggled at some times throughout the year but really, they're not that far out of it."

– Flames Associate Coach Craig Hartsburg on being successful against the Wild

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