Tune in at 10:00 PM ET as the Flames take on the Sharks. Ryan MacIntyre will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
The Flames have only scored one goal in the first two meetings against the Sharks this season. Tanguay is back from injury though and is back on the top line to try to fix the problem.
FLAMES LINES (last game):
First Line:
*
LW Alex Tanguay, C Olli Jokinen, RW Jarome Iginla
Second Line:
*
LW Michael Cammalleri, C Krys Kolanos, RW Blair Jones
Third Line:
*
LW Lance Bouma, C Michael Backlund, RW Blake Comeau
Fourth Line:
*
LW Tom Kostopoulos, C Matt Stajan, RW Tim Jackman
SHARKS LINES (last game):
First Line:
*
LW Andrew Desjardins, C Joe Thornton, RW Joe Pavelski.
Second Line:
*
LW Patrick Marleau, C Logan Couture, RW Ryane Clowe.
Third Line:
*
LW Jamie McGinn, C Michal Handzus, RW Torrey Mitchell.
Fourth Line:
*
LW Brad Winchester, C John McCarthy, RW Benn Ferriero.
As we speak, Owen Nolan is getting applauded in the Shark Tank. Standing ovation. Announced his retirement yesterday and signed a one day contract with the Sharks.
I always get a touch emotional during these ceremonies.
Thornton and Iginla for the ceremonial faceoff.
BETWEEN THE PIPES: Niemi gets the nod for the Sharks and of course, it's Kiprusoff for the Flames.
FIRST PERIOD
19:50 Play underway.
19:30 Mike Cammalleri on the ice for the Flames. His arrival has been slightly underwhelming so far. He has just 2 goals in 8 games so far as a Flame and is a minus - 6.
19:00 I'm interested to see how this top line of Calgary looks tonight. They are out now. Jokinen being flanked by Tanguay and Iginla - sounds like a solid top line to me. First couple of shots go to the Flames.
UPDATE: The Sabres and Bruins are finally done. Sabres win 5-0 and Miller gets the shutout. Lots of rough stuff in this one with a line brawl in the final 2 minutes.
17:20 Antti Niemi had posted shutouts in back-to-back starts for just the second time in his career, but he struggled in his last game vs. Phoenix with 4 goals on 23 shots faced.
16:40 Great work by Kostopoulos on the forecheck to set up Stajan out front for a couple of chances.
UPDATE: No Dan Boyle tonight for the Sharks as he was a game time scratch with the flu.
15:30 A shot from outside by Marleau that Kipper holds.
15:25 I actually just saw that the final in Buffalo was actually 6-0 for the Sabres. Is that the first time the champs have been blown out this year?
15:00 Couture with a solid chance for the Sharks. He leads the team in goals with 22 and is on a 6 game scoring streak.
14:00 Ouch. Only because it's true.
13:30 Shots are 5 a piece. Was all Flames early but Sharks have settled things down. It's going to be interesting to see how they distribute all those Boyle minutes.
12:00 Burns just lead a rush - look for him to step up offensively in the absence of Boyle. Burns has actually started getting a few points as of late.
TV timeout.
Coach Sutter said that he was planning on starting minor league goalie Leland Irving for one of the next two games, so that means that he'll get the start next game for the Flames?
11:00 Back underway.
10:30 Nifty drop pass by Iginla as he was entering the zone but unfortunately it was to Bouwmeester - he pond hockeyed it into the corner for a giveaway.
10:00 Big John McCarthy with a great tip play streaking to the net but Kipper was in position. McCarthy gives us a "Let's get it on!"
9:10 Doug Murray with a couple of blasts that are also tipped out front. Thornton and company with a sold shift. Flames should be happy that there are still zeros on the board after those tips. TV timeout.
UPDATE: The Wings continued their home winning streak against the Oilers tonight, stretching it to 18 - now just 2 shy of the Detroit home winning streak record. AND, guess who got the two goals for the Oilers? Yup, Sam Gagner. Out of control.
Is this a good time to trade Gagner??
8:10 If you were a Flames fan, would you want to make a move for Gagner? ps. Not saying it would happen, with that whole same division thing.
7:30 Solid shift for Tanguay dominating the play in the offensive zone. Butler blasts from the point!
GOAL - FLAMES
JOKINEN!
THE GOAL: What a shift by Calgary's top line! Iginla gave it back to Butler for the point blast and both Tanguay and Jokinen were out front screening. Jokinen got the tip to beat Niemi blocker side. Dominant shift by the Flames with tons of chances.
That was Jokinen's 14th!
6:00 Hey, Martians can score too.
5:10 Sharks on their heels now. Solid shift by Backlund and Bouma to create some offense. Iginla even snuck on at the end to try to get an edge on the Sharks' depth players. Smart coaching play.
TV timeout.
