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Confusing the oddsmakers – Kuzmenko slots in – Flames-Preds game day |
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The Calgary Flames will have their hands full at the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight when they face off against a Nashville Predators team that may be turning a corner. Let’s dive into some storylines.
Calgary Flames (18-13-7, 43 pts) vs Nashville Predators (12-20-7, 31 pts)
Last Ten: Calgary (5-3-2) Nashville (5-4-1)
Time: 8:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
TV: Sportsnet West, Sportsnet One, ESPN
A Cornered Animal
The Predators in their current era may be best known for the infamous U2 Concert Incident.
Jump back to Feb. 15, 2024. The group had lost eight of their last eleven games. With a dwindling hand of cards for Head Coach Andrew Brunnette and Predators management to play, they organization decided to go nuclear.
They cancelled their trip to Vegas to see U2 at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This has to be the most “spoiled hockey kid” story to come out of the NHL in the past decade, but it worked.
Starting with an eight-game winning streak, the Predators went 20-5-3 over the remainder of the season, sealing the first Western Conference Wildcard spot in the process.
No canceled field trip this year, but you have to wonder if we’re seeing the Predators turning another corner.
Nashville currently sits in 30th place in the National Hockey League. Despite their dismal record, the group choked out the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night to a 3-0 tune; arguably their best performance of the season.
That tipping point is coming. Vegas oddsmakers have no idea what to make of tonight’s showdown. Per Bodog, both teams hold –110 odds to leave the Dome with two more points in the standings. You rarely see a team on a back-to-back carrying odds like that.
That may also be because:
Flambé
Calgary’s 5-3 loss to Utah on Thursday night was a bit of a dog’s breakfast in terms of a hockey game.
50% the Kadri show, including a misconduct penalty for riding the refs regarding missed calls.
20% Daniel Vladar is playing slightly below his threshold, and 20% Utah is looking sharp in transition. Add a dash of mirth from the Hockey Gods, mix, and serve.
Will Calgary bounce back tonight? Dustin Wolf and his 10-1-1 home record will certainly be a factor. Nashville has a 28th-ranked offence since Dec. 1 with 2.57 goals per game over 14 appearances. Those two factors might be enough to steal victory for the Flames.
Critical Depth
We’re likely analyzing a different outcome of Thursday’s 5-3 lossif Calgary’s fourth line tightened up on their coverage.
Ryan Lomberg missed an opportunity to drop back and cover Lawson Crouse, who fired the puck past Daniel Vladar for Utah’s first goal. It’s hard to blame a winger for net-front coverage, but when the need arose, he was the closest Flame.
Planting himself firmly in front of the net seconds prior to the goal confuses the defence. If a winger is there, should the center pinch high? Mistakes like that happen.
Kevin Rooney failed to reach the shooter on the penalty kill for Utah’s second goal, a Logan Cooley tip-in.
Calgary’s fourth unit was also on the ice for Lawson Crouse’s game winner, but that was more of a bad transition read from Calgary’s first line in concert with a couple sloppy moves from Jake Bean and MacKenzie Weegar on a three-on-two.
Rough nights for a fourth line can spell roster moves. It begins with Andrei Kuzmenko slotting in on the right side. Walker Duehr gets the night off.
Calgary Kid
Former Calgary Buffalo turned Prince Albert Raider, Ozzy Weisblatt, will play the second NHL game of his career tonight (pending final-hour lineup changes).
The five-foot-ten forward has a dangerous transition game. With Calgary having some struggles defending the rush: look out.
Calgary Flames Projected Lineup
Courtesy of Pat Steinberg. @Fan960Steinberg
Huberdeau-Kadri-Pospisil
Coleman-Backlund-Coronato
Sharangovich-Zary-Pelletier
Lomberg-Rooney-Kuzmenko
Bahl-Andersson
Hanley-Weegar
Bean-Pachal
Wolf
Vladar
Nashville Predators Projected Lineup
The Preds played last night; no morning skate. This is my personal projection.
Forsberg-Stamkos-Marchessault
Nyquist-O'Reilly-Evangelista
Jankowski-Svechkov-Hinostroza
Wiesblatt-McCarron-Sissons
Josi-Barron
Skjei-Blankenburg
Stastney-Schenn
Annunen
Saros
Game time is 8:00 p.m. MST.
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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