The Calgary Flames simply refuse to call it a season.
With the second-lowest cap hit in the NHL, a rookie goaltender seizing the starting position, and a group of veterans that many would consider “over the hill,” this group simply isn’t giving up until the bitter end.
Following a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Monday, the Flames have points in nine of their last eleven games.
7-2-2. Unexpected heroes such as Adam Klapka and Joel Hanley rising to the challenge. With just five games to go, we’re looking at a photo-finish between the Calgary Flames and Minnesota Wild, who are separated by four points, a game in hand, and play each other on Friday night.
A non-playoff finish would be a bitter result, but it’s impossible to deny that the team has made this season a fun one to enjoy. Six of their last seven wins have been comeback victories.
With that said, the team has a moving target and the situation is fluid. Let’s tap into what is going on prior to tonight’s showdown between Calgary and the 25th place Anaheim Ducks.
Trouble
Calgary’s best forechecker Martin Pospisil left the game 7:50 into the third period on Monday night with what appeared to be an arm or shoulder injury.
First, it appears to be the right side, so it wouldn’t be the same shoulder that he hurt at Worlds over the summer.
More importantly, the Flames are in huge trouble if Pospisil misses time. Their record with him in the lineup last season was a respectable 34-25-4.
Without the scrappy Slovak? 4-14-1.
Woof.
The hulking Adam Klapka stepped up in Pospisil’s absence and scored a timely goal serving in Martin’s vacated spot on line one.
Pospisil skated on the fourth line tonight. Time will tell how much that crash into the boards will affect his play.
One certainty is that tonight will be the biggest game of Adam Klapka's career. The 25-year-old appears to be keeping that first line spot for the time being.
Oh, Hey Mark
Former Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom appears to have found his game after a shakey return to play following the Four Nations Face-Off.
The six-foot-six netminder is 4-1-0 in his last five. His .890 save percentage perhaps doesn’t do his play justice.
You know how goaltender stats go; you can freely call them Team Stats when it’s convenient and most people won’t mind.
Team Stats.
Also of note is New Jersey’s place in the standings. Missing the playoffs is off the table given that their closest divisional rival has ten less points and the Devils hold third place in the Metropolitan.
Montreal and Ottawa are in the Atlantic, and Jersey only needs one point to eliminate New York.
But—look at their place in the standings as of April 9.
Calgary has their pick, so moving down one spot in round one in July wouldn’t be the end-all if things stay where they are. Calgary may even pass New Jersey.
You have to wonder: Who else could the Flames pass and still miss the playoffs?
The Opposition
Despite their place in the standings and their poor showing against Calgary last Thursday, it’s not a good idea to count out the Anaheim Ducks tonight.
For one, they goalied Edmonton on Monday. A 3-2 win where Lukas Dostal saved 47 of 49 shots.
Calgary appears to be facing Ville Husso, which may actually be bad news. The 30 year old Finn has never lost to the Flames.
Vs Calgary – Ville Husso
Record: 3-0-0
Sv%: .950
GAA: 1.80
Scottsdale, Arizona product Cutter Gauthier scored two against Edmonton and 2021 third overall pick Mason McTavish scored the game-winner. If Anaheim can actually access the offensive potential of their former top ten draft selections?
Look out.
Calgary Flames Projected Lineup
Courtesy of Derek Wills.
@Fan960Wills
Huberdeau-Kadri-Klapka
Coleman-Backlund-Coronato
Sharangovich-Frost-Farabee
Lomberg-Rooney-Pospisil
Hanley-Weegar
Bahl-Miromanov*
Bean-Pachal
Wolf (Starter)
Vladar
*Placeholder for Andersson
Anaheim Ducks Projected Lineup
Courtesy of nhl.com writing staff.
Cutter Gauthier -- Leo Carlsson -- Alex Killorn
Frank Vatrano -- Ryan Strome -- Troy Terry
Trevor Zegras -- Mason McTavish -- Sam Colangelo
Nikita Nesterenko -- Isac Lundestrom -- Jansen Harkins
Jackson LaCombe -- Radko Gudas
Pavel Mintyukov -- Drew Helleson
Oliver Kylington -- Olen Zellweger
Ville Husso
Lukas Dostal
Puck drop is at 8:10 p.m.
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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