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Are Beverage Prices Out of Control? - Tough Lineup Decisions - Game Day |
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A few tongue-in-cheek questions to start today. Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks was followed by head coach Ryan Huska calling out around 75% of his forward group for not showing up to play.
“We had a handful of players that came to play tonight, I think everybody here probably knows who those players are, and the rest did not.”
The line of Pospisil-Kadri-Kuzmenko got a pass, and the rest of the forwards were about to do some hard review of their work by the Flames coaching staff. With just one win in their last seven and a record of 4-9-0 since Noah Hanifin was dealt – should an adjustment in ticket prices be in the conversation?
How about the price of drinks at the Scotiabank Saddledome? We’re well past the point of needing more than a 20 dollar bill to buy two beers. With an inferior product on the ice, one of the oldest barns in the NHL, and some players starting to check out as the season draws on, why not bump those prices down to keep fans happy?
Not going to happen, but certainly worth asking. Maybe the real question is: Where is the line drawn?
Four years from now, we’re likely looking at around 16 bucks for a dome beer. Vegas charges $17 American and gets away with it. The San Fransisco 49ers have the audacity to charge $23 American dollars for 16oz of American water-beer. Walk out of the arena and you can get 288oz for around that price. Organizations will keep moving that needle as long as people keep paying.
Maybe it’s time for a tailgating movement.
Calgary Flames (34-35-5, 73 pts) vs Winnipeg Jets (45-24-6, 96 pts)
Last Ten: Calgary (3-7-0) Winnipeg (4-5-1)
Time: 6:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
TV: Sportsnet One, Sportsnet West, TSN3, ESPN+
Climbing Out of the Funk
Both teams playing tonight have been having a rough go of it lately. Since March 17, Winnipeg is 3-5-1 (25th) and Calgary is 2-6-0. Both teams rank near the bottom of the league in both offence and defence over that time.
It’s worth noting that both teams seemingly turned a corner with wins over the LA Kings last week. Given the Calgary effort last game, it may be that the Kings are simply playing poorly.
On a Positive Note
Andrei Kuzmenko has found his offence of late with two goals against Anaheim. As has Yegor Sharangovich, who has a goal and an assist in his last two games. Yegor tends to score in bunches and would be a safe prop bet tonight. At least as far as prop bets go.
Concerning Combination
We’re still waiting on lineups to be confirmed; the Flames held an optional skate today. That said, it looks like Joel Hanley’s injury may re-unite Oliver Kylington and Rasmus Andersson.
It’s wild. The two have easily the most experience playing together among all potential D pairs on the Flames. They made up a formidable combo while they developed in the AHL together. Their passing was just so sharp, even during the times Kylington would get a cup of coffee in the NHL. Darryl wasn’t a fan and wisely stuck Oliver with Chris Tanev.
They haven’t been great together in the new Zone Defence, or Box Plus One, system. Kylington-Andersson have been outscored 6-12 for a 33.33 goals percentage at 5v5 this season in 23 games as a pairing. The two have played a total of 150:24 together in 2023-2024.
Update: Huska agrees. The two remain split.
Calgary Flames Projected Lineup
Coleman-Backlund-Coronato
Pospisil-Kadri-Kuzmenko
Huberdeau-Sharangovich-Hunt
Greer-Rooney-Duehr
Weegar-Miromanov
Okhotiuk-Andersson
Kylington-Pachal
Wolf
Markstrom
Winnipeg Jets Projected Lineup
Per John Lu. @JohnLuTSNWpg
Ehlers – Scheifele – Vilardi
Connor – Monahan – Perfetti
Toffoli – Lowry – Appleton
Barron – Namestnikov – Iafallo
Morrissey – Pionk
Dillon – DeMelo
Samberg – Miller
Hellebuyck
Brossoit
Puck drop is at 6:10 p.m. MST.
Editor's note: You have to click the image to see the blue column mentioned below. Blame Elon.
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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