by Daniel MacDonald
The Flames aren't winning games right now, but that doesn't mean they aren't playing in eventful games. Just look at what happened on Saturday night against the Canucks, where an opening-faceoff line brawl and the subsequent fallout has them at the fore of the hockey world for the first time all season. For the record, the game was a loss, the Flames third consecutive and seventh in nine January games. They currently sit just 3 points up on the Oilers for the basement spot in the West.
Acting General Manager Brian Burke recently publicized his desire to trade 'expendable' Flames assets, including many pending UFA's and under-performing veterans on long term contracts. Among those players is Flames leading scorer Jiri Hudler (12-27, +0), who has been a diamond in the rough for a terrible Flames squad this season.
Hudler is averaging just over 0.85 points/per game, a remarkable number considering the Flames inability to score (109 GF, 29th in the league). He has been in on over a third of the team's scoring plays this season, and is also a plus player on a team with a -47 goal differential. These stats speak of a player who is in the prime of his career right now, and of someone who could net the Flames a serious return at the trade deadline. As these are career numbers for Hudler, they could perhaps be seen as an abberation aided by a serious talent vacuum in Calgary; but regardless, they are excellent two way statistics, and are indicative of a player who could be of benefit to any pending playoff team down the stretch, and into the spring.
Look for Karri Ramo (8-9-4, 2.75GAA .905SP) to get the start for the Flames on Monday. He has been on a steady incline of late, and has been head coach Bob Hartley's go-to-guy for much of the past two months. He has given the Flames repsectable goaltending, and an opportunity to win, on most nights, which is more than they expected from the journeyman Finn coming into the season.
The Sharks are feasting on weak opposition this season, and have been playing some of their best hockey of the season of late. They are currently riding a three game win streak, including a hard fought 5-4 road win over Tampa Bay on Saturday. Monday's game is the start of a 4-game homestand for the Sharks, which should lead to more success when taking into consideration their outstanding home record (16-2-3).
So many players have led the way for the Sharks this season, but none have done so from a more unexpected place than Joe Pavelski (25-23, +11). The veteran center has long been regarded as a respectable two-way center, lauded for his outstanding defensive play to go along with mid-level offensive numbers. His career high in goals and points prior to this season was a respectable 31 and 66 in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
2013/14 has seen a completely transformed Pavelski, as the center has taken the scoring reins for the Sharks, becoming one of the league's most proliferate scorers. A three-goal outburst on Saturday night gave him 25 on the season, good for 3rd in the league (tied with Sidney Crosby).
Head coach Todd McLellan has called Pavelski the team's best player for the balance of the season, and with key offensive contributors Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl out with long-term injuries, it has been Pavelski, and not expected scoring sources like Brent Burns and Patrick Marleau, who has picked up the slack. He figures to be a prominent figure on the American Olympic team in Sochi, where he is likely to get top-line billing alongside star wingers Zach Parise and Patrick Kane.
The Sharks have gotten respectable goaltending numbers from starter Antti Niemi (25-10-6, 2.39GAA .913SP), though there have been games where the veteran Finn has looked shaky. He is slated for the Monday start, and will look to improve upon allowing 4 goals on 29 shots in Tampa on Saturday.
This is certainly a David vs. Goliath match-up on paper, as the Flames find themselves running into a buzzsaw in San Jose. In two games this season, the Sharks have two wins, including a 3-2 overtime victory back in mid-November. With only 5 losses in 21 home games, they are enormous favorites on Monday night. And speaking of Pavelski, he has torn the Flames up this season, with 5 points (2-3) in the two Sharks victories
Source:- http://www.crunchsports.com/category/nhl/calgary-san-jose-201401200044/
The Flames aren't winning games right now, but that doesn't mean they aren't playing in eventful games. Just look at what happened on Saturday night against the Canucks, where an opening-faceoff line brawl and the subsequent fallout has them at the fore of the hockey world for the first time all season. For the record, the game was a loss, the Flames third consecutive and seventh in nine January games. They currently sit just 3 points up on the Oilers for the basement spot in the West.
Acting General Manager Brian Burke recently publicized his desire to trade 'expendable' Flames assets, including many pending UFA's and under-performing veterans on long term contracts. Among those players is Flames leading scorer Jiri Hudler (12-27, +0), who has been a diamond in the rough for a terrible Flames squad this season.
Hudler is averaging just over 0.85 points/per game, a remarkable number considering the Flames inability to score (109 GF, 29th in the league). He has been in on over a third of the team's scoring plays this season, and is also a plus player on a team with a -47 goal differential. These stats speak of a player who is in the prime of his career right now, and of someone who could net the Flames a serious return at the trade deadline. As these are career numbers for Hudler, they could perhaps be seen as an abberation aided by a serious talent vacuum in Calgary; but regardless, they are excellent two way statistics, and are indicative of a player who could be of benefit to any pending playoff team down the stretch, and into the spring.
Look for Karri Ramo (8-9-4, 2.75GAA .905SP) to get the start for the Flames on Monday. He has been on a steady incline of late, and has been head coach Bob Hartley's go-to-guy for much of the past two months. He has given the Flames repsectable goaltending, and an opportunity to win, on most nights, which is more than they expected from the journeyman Finn coming into the season.
The Sharks are feasting on weak opposition this season, and have been playing some of their best hockey of the season of late. They are currently riding a three game win streak, including a hard fought 5-4 road win over Tampa Bay on Saturday. Monday's game is the start of a 4-game homestand for the Sharks, which should lead to more success when taking into consideration their outstanding home record (16-2-3).
So many players have led the way for the Sharks this season, but none have done so from a more unexpected place than Joe Pavelski (25-23, +11). The veteran center has long been regarded as a respectable two-way center, lauded for his outstanding defensive play to go along with mid-level offensive numbers. His career high in goals and points prior to this season was a respectable 31 and 66 in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
2013/14 has seen a completely transformed Pavelski, as the center has taken the scoring reins for the Sharks, becoming one of the league's most proliferate scorers. A three-goal outburst on Saturday night gave him 25 on the season, good for 3rd in the league (tied with Sidney Crosby).
Head coach Todd McLellan has called Pavelski the team's best player for the balance of the season, and with key offensive contributors Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl out with long-term injuries, it has been Pavelski, and not expected scoring sources like Brent Burns and Patrick Marleau, who has picked up the slack. He figures to be a prominent figure on the American Olympic team in Sochi, where he is likely to get top-line billing alongside star wingers Zach Parise and Patrick Kane.
The Sharks have gotten respectable goaltending numbers from starter Antti Niemi (25-10-6, 2.39GAA .913SP), though there have been games where the veteran Finn has looked shaky. He is slated for the Monday start, and will look to improve upon allowing 4 goals on 29 shots in Tampa on Saturday.
This is certainly a David vs. Goliath match-up on paper, as the Flames find themselves running into a buzzsaw in San Jose. In two games this season, the Sharks have two wins, including a 3-2 overtime victory back in mid-November. With only 5 losses in 21 home games, they are enormous favorites on Monday night. And speaking of Pavelski, he has torn the Flames up this season, with 5 points (2-3) in the two Sharks victories
Source:- http://www.crunchsports.com/category/nhl/calgary-san-jose-201401200044/
