After finally breaking a six game losing streak on Saturday, the 3-7-1 Calgary Flames will seek to make it two in a row against the 5-6-0 Nashville Predators. A group that has lost three of their last four. Before we get to some team news as well as some thoughts and observations, let’s take a moment to address our northern brethren.
The Oilers
The news of the day today is Oilers goaltender
Jack Campbell going on waivers. The 31 year old from Port Huron, Michigan has been struggling alongside the other member of the Oilers goaltending tandem,
Stuart Skinner. The two each have a win to their record in the season. Skinner has four losses including last night’s 6-2 drubbing and Campbell has five losses, one in overtime.
It’s unlikely that any team bites on Campbell. The former Toronto Maple Leaf is in year two of a five year deal carrying a five million dollar annual average value. Ken Holland may have further moves up his sleeve. If Campbell, 31, clears waivers the Oilers get $1,150,000 in cap relief.
Ok. Why is this pertinent? Sean does the Oilers content on here. Why are you talking about this?
First and foremost.
More importantly, the Oilers loss to the Canucks last night looked strangely familiar. Let’s check a few boxes and you tell me if anything rings a bell.
Check out these shot totals immediately prior to the Canucks getting three quick goals.
That certainly looks familiar, but lots of teams do that. Where is the toothless frustration?
Alright, can’t argue that, but I don’t like what you’re starting to imply. Besides. No goal on the first five shots.
Big effort out of the gate only to waffle a hard-earned lead? A flailing but ultimately harmless gesture from the leadership group to stand up for the team? A goal against on the first five shots?
Sorry Oilers fans, but you guys just lost Flames-style. A fate worse than death.
Mangiapane
Feisty winger
Andrew Mangiapane will sit out tonight’s game due to an incident that occurred during the first period of Saturday’s 6-3 win over Seattle.
A tough blow, but easier to deal with given that
Connor Zary and
Martin Pospisil both put up goals in their first NHL games and appear to be staying in the lineup. Unfortunately, there has to be an odd man out with two rookies seizing a spot each.
Hunt
27 year old
Dryden Hunt has been waived and will likely be assigned to the AHL Wranglers if he clears. Calgary-based, but Cranbrook-born, Hunt just couldn’t find his way onto the scoresheet in four games despite bringing energy every shift.
Stat Digging
It’s not easy to dig up positive stats for a 3-7-1 team. Particularly involving their record. One good one?
2-1-0 when tied heading into the third. That’s about as good as it gets.
The Opposition
Nashville has had the unfortunate luck of having to play the red hot Canucks twice in the last five games. Zero points and an 8-4 goal differential came out of those two meetups. Saturday’s game against the Oilers proved that the Preds are a more dangerous group than they appear.
Ryan O’Reilly scored a hat trick on Edmonton on Saturday and the team is converting power plays at a respectable 23.4% rate.
One thing that Calgary head coach
Ryan Huska will be emphasizing is executing on the power play. The Preds’ PK unit ranks 31st with a 66.7% kill rate.
Calgary Flames Projected Lineup
Courtesy of Pat Steinberg.
@Fan960Steinberg
Huberdeau-Lindholm-Dube
Zary-Kadri-Sharangovich
Pospisil-Backlund-Coleman
Greer-Ruzicka-Duehr
Weegar-Andersson
Hanifin-Tanev
Zadorov-DeSimone
Markstrom
Vladar
Nashville Predators Projected Lineup
Courtesy of Max Herz.
@MaxHerzTalks
Forsberg-O’Reilly-Nyquist
Sherwood-Novak-Evangelista
Trenin-Sissons-Pärssinen
Foudy-McCarron-Smith
Josi-Fabbro
Lauzon-Carrier
Del Gaizo-Barrie
One last bit of news.
Ronni
59th overall pick,
Toppi Ronni will be returning to his hockey club after a brief suspension. His Ligga organization, Tampereen Tappara, released the following statement. If you want to spare yourself the read, it sounds like labour laws in Finland ensure a person can return to work with the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise. Mind that this is translated, so there might be a word or a phrase lost in translation.
Tappara's player Topi Rönni will return to the team's activities on Monday 6 November 2023. According to normal practice, the head coach decides on Rönni's participation in the team's lineup in future games.
Recently, there has been a lot of discussion in the media about hockey culture. The players are well-known persons, and the accusations against them arouse a lot of interest.
- It is good to remember that in Finland the judiciary has the power to judge and the presumption of innocence is an essential part of both human rights and Finnish legal principles. We now let the judiciary do its work in peace, says Tamhockey Oy CEO Mika Aro.
The District Court of Helsinki will deal with Rönni's indictment on 12 March 2024.
- We expect from all our employees the kind of good behaviour that is generally associated with sports and athletes. However, from the point of view of labour legislation, the situation is clear: suspicion of a crime is not a reason for terminating an employment relationship or moving an employee aside. We take the suspected crime seriously, but we are waiting for the court hearing and will assess the player's status only after that. The association is an employer and operates in accordance with labour legislation, Aro continues.
Neither Tappara nor Rönni will comment further on the matter at this stage.
Something to keep an eye on.
Game time is 7:00 pm MST. Catch the broadcast on Sportsnet in Canada and Bally Sports South in the States.
Trevor Neufeld
@Trevor_Neufeld
Stats via espn.com and naturalstattrick.com.
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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