For the first time, it really seems like time is running out on the Calgary Flames. After an unimpressive 5-3 loss in Nashville last night, the Flames have dropped two games below the .500 mark with just 20 games remaining. Tonight, they’ll finish off a road trip looking to snap an eight game road losing skid when they visit the surging Columbus Blue Jackets (5 pm, Sportsnet 960 and Sportsnet West).
Calgary’s road losing skid is their longest in 13 years, dating back to January and February of 2000 during the last extended stretch out of the playoffs for the Flames. Their last road win came on February 17th when they took a 4-3 victory in Dallas. Typically, a six game home winning streak would be something that could buoy a team. Couple it with a longer losing streak away from home and that becomes impossible.
I could, and will, make the argument that last night was Calgary’s worst game of the season. Knowing the magnitude of the contest and the situation their opponent was in, there is zero excuse for the Flames to be dominated at even strength like they were from start to finish. At this point, Calgary isn’t “supposed” to beat anyone, but an effort like that in Nashville isn’t something you see from a playoff bound team. To predict what will happen tonight in Columbus is tough to do, just because the Flames have been that tough to figure out this season.
Calgary Flames 11-13-4, 14th Western Conference
These are projected lines for tonight factoring in lineup changes and what we saw for most of last night in Nashville. This much is known: the Flames need more from their highest paid players. The top trio on that depth chart combined for a -7 last night and were nowhere to be found for a vast majority of the hockey game. Yes, Iginla was able to tally a powerplay marker late, but it was nothing but a stat-padding goal in the end as it turned a 5-2 game into a 5-3 contest with 59 seconds to go. Calgary can’t afford to have their leaders playing like that, and it’s been an all-too-constant refrain in losses this year.
Coming off a lackluster effort, the Flames will make a few lineup changes. Cervenka re-enters in place of Mikael Backlund, but this seems to be somewhat injury related as well. Backlund blocked a shot off his foot one week ago in Calgary’s home win over the Predators and suffered a crack and a bruise as a result. He has played through a considerable amount of pain the last two games, but hasn’t been anywhere near as effective as a result. On the second half of a back-to-back set, Backlund sitting doesn’t come as a huge surprise.
On the back end, Chris Butler will take a seat as a healthy scratch with Derek Smith returning after watching yesterday fro the press box. Butler’s soft rim around the end boards was directly responsible for Nashville’s second goal last night. With the Flames gaining possession in their own end, Butler looked to use his own end boards to make a safety-valve pass to his defensive partner. Instead, the pass was picked off by Martin Erat and centered to Mike Fisher for his second of two goals last night. Smith has struggled as well in recent games, playing on 3:52 in Monday’s loss to Dallas. It’ll be the first time Sarich plays back-to-back games since February 11th and 13th.
Miikka Kiprusoff gets the start in net for Calgary tonight coming off an 18 save performance in Nashville. Yes, he let in five goals on 23 shots, but the way the Flames played in front of him there are far more fingers to point elsewhere before focusing in between the pipes.
Columbus Blue Jackets 12-12-6, 10th Western Conference
Tonight’s opponent for the Flames happens to be one of the hottest teams in the NHL. The Blue Jackets have gone 11 straight games without suffering a loss in regulation, putting together an impressive 7-0-4 mark. Their point streak is the longest in franchise history and it’s helped elevate them from the Western Conference basement into true playoff contention; they sit two points out heading into action tonight. It’s a pretty cool story for a team many had penned in as the 15th place team in the West this year.
The biggest reason why? Sergei Bobrovsky. The Jackets goaltender has given them incredible stuff during this stretch, and throughout the entire year. Bobrovsky has put together a 7-0-2 mark over his last nine starts, posting a 0.98 goals against average an a 0.968 save percentage along the way. Overall, he ranks second in the NHL with a 0.931 save percentage and his 2.05 goals against number is the sixth best in the league. I know Columbus has had their issues with consistent goaltending since Steve Mason’s rookie year, but this has been impressive stuff.
The Jackets will be without Brandon Dubinsky tonight, as he appeared to tweak an injury at practice. Gillies gets back into the lineup as a result after sitting on Tuesday as a healthy scratch. Aucoin returns to the lineup as well after missing the last two games; he’ll take John Moore’s spot on the blueline. Columbus is also without defenseman James Wisniewski another couple weeks with a foot injury and forward Derek Dorsett is done for the season with a broken clavicle.