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GDT - Game #73: Red Wings at Flames (9:30)
by Jeff OKWingnut on 03/23/09 at 08:57 AM ET
Comments (28)
Calgary tonight and Edmonton tomorrow night to end the Wings 3 game road trip. The Wings are coming off a solid, 6-3 performance Friday night in Atlanta. Babcock was pretty happy after the game, except for this comment about the Wings surrendering the 3rd G/A : “I thought Ozzie had played so good, you owe him to take care of the puck better than that.” Speaking of Ozzie, since giving up seven goals in a March 7 loss to Columbus, he has allowed only seven in four straight wins. DET will try to recapture the 1 position in the W.C. tonight after SJS took over the position with their win over COL yesterday.
CGY have their own issues of late. In losing five of their last seven, the Flames have seen their Northwest Division lead over Canucks cut to three points. CGY blew a one-goal lead in Friday night’s 3-2 loss to visiting STL, allowing the Blues to score twice in the third period. Starting all but five games this season, Miikka Kiprusoff could be running on fumes, he has a 3.95 GAA in nine March starts. In his last 6 starts against DET, he is 2-3-0 with a 3.67 GAA.
Standings:
DET: 72 g/p 48 15 9 105 pts (2 in Conf., 1 in Central), 270 gf, 212 ga, Last 10 7-2-1, Streak Won 4
CGY: 71 g/p 41 24 6 88 pts (3 in Conf, 1 in Northwest), 233 gf, 218 ga, Last 10 4-6-0, Streak Lost 1
Stats (rank):
DET: 729 point% (2), 3.67 g/g (1), 2.90 ga/g (19), 1.26 5-5 f/a (3), 26.4 pp (1) ,77.9 pk (26), 36.2 s/g (1), 27.8 sa/g (3), 55.5 fo% (1).
CGY: .620 point% (6), 3.24 g/g (4), 3.04 ga/g (25), 1.09 5-5 f/a (10), 19.2 pp (15), 84.0 pk (3) 32.0 s/g (8), 30.0 sa/g (17), 51.6 fo% (6).
Player Stats:
DET Skaters:
POS Player GP G A PTS +/-
C Pavel Datsyuk 71 29 59 88 32
C Henrik Zetterberg 67 29 38 67 16
RW Marian Hossa 66 36 28 64 21
D Brian Rafalski 72 10 44 54 19
RW Jiri Hudler 72 21 32 53 7
RW Johan Franzen 61 30 21 51 16
D Nicklas Lidstrom 69 13 37 50 28
D Niklas Kronwall 70 4 40 44 0
RW Mikael Samuelsson 71 18 21 39 5
RW Daniel Cleary 64 14 24 38 7
C Valtteri Filppula 70 10 27 37 15
RW Tomas Holmstrom 44 14 17 31 19
RW Tomas Kopecky 69 6 13 19 -2
C Kris Draper 71 7 10 17 -11
D Brett Lebda 56 6 10 16 8
D Brad Stuart 57 1 13 14 5
D Andreas Lilja 60 2 11 13 13
LW Kirk Maltby 68 5 6 11 -9
LW * Ville Leino 13 5 4 9 5
D Derek Meech 37 2 5 7 -12
RW Aaron Downey 4 1 1 2 0
D Jonathan Ericsson 9 0 2 2 2
C Darren Helm 16 0 1 1 -7
RW Darren McCarty 13 1 0 1 -2
LW Justin Abdelkader 2 0 0 0 0
D Chris Chelios 22 0 0 0 2
DET Goalies:
Player GPI W L OT GAA PCT
Chris Osgood 39 24 6 7 3.14 .885
Ty Conklin 36 24 8 2 2.45 .911
CGY Skaters:
POS Player GP G A PTS +/-
RW Jarome Iginla 71 31 52 83 1
LW Michael Cammalleri 70 35 37 72 -5
C Olli Jokinen 65 29 25 54 -8
C Daymond Langkow 62 19 25 44 -1
LW Todd Bertuzzi 57 15 28 43 -11
C Craig Conroy 71 9 33 42 16
D Dion Phaneuf 71 10 32 42 -11
LW Rene Bourque 58 21 19 40 18
LW Curtis Glencross 65 12 26 38 13
RW David Moss 70 19 16 35 -6
D Adrian Aucoin 71 10 22 32 -8
C Dustin Boyd 65 11 11 22 -9
D Jordan Leopold 72 7 14 21 -14
D Cory Sarich 71 2 18 20 13
D Mark Giordano 58 2 17 19 2
C Jamie Lundmark 16 5 6 11 2
D Adam Pardy 51 1 9 10 5
LW Eric Nystrom 65 4 5 9 -2
D Robyn Regehr 69 0 8 8 12
C Wayne Primeau 24 0 4 4 -3
D Jim Vandermeer 34 0 4 4 1
RW Andre Roy 44 3 0 3 -1
LW * David Van der Gulik 4 0 2 2 1
C * Warren Peters 11 1 0 1 1
C * Brett Sutter 4 1 0 1 -2
C * Mikael Backlund 1 0 0 0 0
RW * Kris Chucko 2 0 0 0 0
LW Kyle Greentree 2 0 0 0 -1
CGY Goalies:
Player GPI W L OT GAA PCT
Miikka Kiprusoff 66 41 18 5 2.85 .904
Curtis McElhinney 10 0 6 1 3.78 .882
Injury Report:
DET:
Andreas Lilja (D) Concussion (Sidelined indefinitely)
Tomas Holmstrom (RW/LW) Right knee injury (Day to day)
CGY:
Andre Roy (LW) Upper body injury (Day to day)
Wayne Primeau (C/LW) Broken foot (Sidelined indefinitely)
Todd Bertuzzi (RW/LW) Knee surgery (Early April)
Rhett Warrener (D) Shoulder injury (Sidelined indefinitely)
Mark Giordano (D) Shoulder surgery (Sidelined indefinitely)
Rene Bourque (LW/RW) Ankle injury (Sidelined indefinitely)
Hot and Not:
DET: HOT:
Niklas Kronwall (D) 3 pts in last 3 GP
Brad Stuart (D) 4 pts in last 4 GP
Nicklas Lidstrom (D) 5 pts in last 5 GP
Johan Franzen (LW/C) 5 pts in last 2 GP
Henrik Zetterberg (C) 5 pts in last 2 GP
Pavel Datsyuk (C/LW) 9 pts in last 5 GP
Marian Hossa (RW) 3 pts in last 3 GP
Jiri Hudler (RW/LW) 3 pts in last 4 GP
Chris Osgood (G) 3-0-0, 1.67, .940 in last 3 GPI
CGY: HOT:
Olli Jokinen (C) 7 pts in last 3 GP
Jarome Iginla (RW) 21 pts in last 12 GP
Dustin Boyd (C/W) 3 pts in last 2 GP
Mike Cammalleri (W/C) 17 pts in last 12 GP
Jeff Sagarin NHL Ratings, from USAToday.com:
To make predictions for upcoming games, simply compare the RATINGS of
the teams in question and allow an ADDITIONAL .25 goals for the home
team. Thus, for example, a HOME team with a rating of 4.43 would be
favored by .57 goals over a VISITING team having a rating of 4.11
Or a VISITING team with a rating of 4.56 would be favored by .42 goals
over a HOME team having a rating of 3.89NOTE: Use whatever home advantage is listed in the output below.
In the example just above, a home edge of .25 was shown for
illustrative purposes. The home edge will vary during the season.NHL 2008-2009 through games of 2009 March 22 Sunday
HOME ADVANTAGE= 0.35 RATING W L SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 16 | ELO_CHESS | PREDICTOR
1 Detroit Red Wings = 4.87 48 24 4.01( 13) 15 10 | 23 14 | 4.88 1 | 4.87 1
7 Calgary Flames = 4.32 41 30 3.98( 20) 10 12 | 17 17 | 4.38 6 | 4.26 8
The AccuScore game forecast from the The Sporting News:
Detroit Red Wings 3.5
Calgary Flames 3.2Team Win Percent Average Score Big Win Close Win
Detroit Red Wings 55.3% 3.5 18.8% 25.2%
Calgary Flames 44.7% 3.2 12.6% 21.7%Fantasy Spotlight G A PTS
Pavel Datsyuk 0.36 0.66 1.02
Jarome Iginla 0.41 0.59 1.01Probability of a Fight: 29.7%
Could not find anything on the projected lines for the tilt tonight. I’ll try to update later this afternoon.
Odds and Ends from Khan! :
Chris Osgood will make his season-high fifth consecutive start in goal tonight, looking for his fifth win in a row. He has won six of his past seven starts. . .
Ty Conklin, who has not played since a 6-5 shootout loss to the Flames on March 12, will start Tuesday’s game at Edmonton. . .
Brian Rafalski needs one point to equal his career-high total of 55 set in each of the past two seasons—2006-07 with New Jersey and last season in Detroit. He scored his 10th goal in Friday’s 6-3 victory at Atlanta, reaching double digits for the second consecutive season. . .
Said Babcock: “Rafi’s been a good addition. He fits in well, no maintenance, just does his job, really good defensively, really competitive when it counts.”
The Red Wings are averaging a league-best 3.67 goals per game (Boston is second at 3.27). It is their highest production rate since 2005-06, when they averaged 3.67 goals per game. Already, they have scored more goals (264—excluding goals awarded in the standings for shootout wins) than they did all of last season (252).
Randy Sportak (the man was destined to be a sports writer) on the Flames, from the Calgary Sun:
It’s hard for the Calgary Flames to forget their last meeting with the Detroit Red Wings.
For starters, it’s one of only two wins they’ve collected in the last 17 days, having dropped five of seven outings.
Also, because it was such an exciting comeback in Detroit 11 days ago. They erased a three-goal deficit, took a late lead only to lose the edge in the final minute and then won 6-5 in a shootout. It was a thriller they’re not about to forget.
“I don’t think they have, either,” said Flames forward Dustin Boyd.
“I’m sure they’ll be ready to go. . .”
Still, with the way the Flames have choked and wheezed the past couple of weeks and on the heels of blowing a third-period lead to St. Louis Friday, any positive they can hang on to at this time is a good thing.
The Staff and other media at the Calgary Herald make their predictions on tonights tilt:
D’Arcy McGrath, owner/publisher, calgarypuck.com:
The edge: The Wings have terrible goaltending, so a big edge to the Flames there. However if you select any other category the smooth as silk Wings are all over Calgary, including - one game put aside - between the ears. The Flames are motivated however, and looking to make up for a bad outing on Friday.The score: The gimme pick is to select Detroit over Calgary, it’s a choice that would have you right nine of the past ten games. But I have a good feeling about this one. Flames look good coast to coast in another gooder, Flames 4 Wings 2.
Dave Rowe, broadcaster/host, FAN 960 Radio:
The edge: The Canucks weren’t the only team to squander two points this weekend. The two quick goals that allowed St. Louis to escape with the win Friday were the result of a team that allowed itself to be outworked and outcompeted at home. The Red Wings will come into town looking to prove a point after they blew a big lead at home against the Flames a week and a half ago. Detroit hasn’t stopped scoring since, and Chris Osgood has reasserted himself as the team’s number one.The score: Flames don’t do themselves any favours tonight. 5-3 Red Wings.
George Johnson, sports columnist, Calgary Herald:
The edge: Flames certainly have more motivation. They can push their advantage over Canucks to five points before the Sedin Twins and Co. face-off in Dallas on Tuesday, the second of a six-game sojourn. Wings, meanwhile, are trying to keep warm before their real time, the playoffs, opens up.
The score: Revenge-minded Detroit still the class of the conference. Expect payback, 5-3.
Heath Brown, sports anchor, CTV Calgary:
The edge: Detroit’s depth, a former strength of the Flames before injuries began to pile up. Get this, nine different Wings have found the back of the net in their two previous wins over the Flames.The score: Detroit 5 Calgary 3. The Red Wings are hungry for revenge after losing 6-5 in a shootout earlier this month on home ice to the Flames.
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Comments
This one could get nasty. Calgary always gets themselves in penalty trouble trying to physically intimidate the Wings. The power play has gone a bit cold in the last few games, fortunately we haven’t been forced to take real notice and hit any kind of a panic button. I’d like to see them net at least two win the man advantage tonight to remind the Flames why you don’t take liberties with our guys.
Sharks overtook us in the standings again and they remain in the driver’s seat. We need to keep the pedal down as they’re suddenty playing a lot better (of course playing Colorado should make any team look good by comparison).
Phaneuf’s -11 gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/23/09 at 09:42 AM ET
Very nice Jeff. I like that you underlined Ericsson and Kronwall… points out really good signs for the Wings going forward. Kronwall has pushed forward to get back to an even rating after a really bad start, and he’s among the points leaders for defensemen with a massive 40 helpers. Ericsson isn’t going to contribute a lot of offense his first season or two with the big club, but it’s nice to see him on the right side of even playing solid minutes and using his size in all areas of the rink.
Another very important thing this shows—Stuart and Kronwall are becoming very effective as a pairing yet again, at the right time of the year, and Ericsson is playing with Lebda a lot and they are far from a liability out there. Wonder what things will look like in the playoffs if Lilja is back? I think we could see a “twin towers” of Lilja and Ericsson on the third pair, with Lils staying home and Ericsson using his skating to get up ice and let that rocket shot go a little more.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 03/23/09 at 10:05 AM ET
Every time Jonathon Ericsson releases a slapshot, another black hole is formed in time and space. To Jonny Ericsson!
Looking forward to tonight and tomorrow’s game. Let’s see how the boys come down the stretch. It’s good to get some traveling done at the end of the season to see how the team responds since we never know how far we’re actually going travel once the playoffs starts. Remember how there were teams in the East a few years ago that would go an entire season without even playing a game outside of their timezone…yeah…screw you guys.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 03/23/09 at 10:12 AM ET
Calgary always gets themselves in penalty trouble trying to physically intimidate the Wings.
And didn’t Uncle Mike say last week something like “Teams try to play us physical, intimidate us; we think we’re going on the power play.”
Decipher and take that as you will…
Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 03/23/09 at 10:38 AM ET
D’Arcy McGrath, owner/publisher, calgarypuck.com:
The edge: The Wings have terrible goaltending, so a big edge to the Flames there. However if you select any other category the smooth as silk Wings are all over Calgary, including - one game put aside - between the ears. The Flames are motivated however, and looking to make up for a bad outing on Friday.
Don’t look now, D’Arcy (like that’s your real name…), but Kipper is looking like a guy that can hardly get through another game he’s so tired, and Osgood actually looks… respectable. Which is all Detroit needs out of a goalie.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 03/23/09 at 10:39 AM ET
Scratch the previous post.
Mike-
On opponents trying to get physical with the Wings: “I think they think they’re going to intimidate you or something like that. We think we’re going to go on the power play.”
Sounds good to me.
Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 03/23/09 at 10:41 AM ET
Stuart and Kronwall are becoming very effective as a pairing yet again, at the right time of the year
Posted by Nathan from To Jonny Ericsson! on 03/23/09 at 11:05 AM ET
Amen to that. Kronner is +21 in Wings wins this year and -21 in losses; Stu is +23 and -18. This D pair is crucial, and having them clicking going into the playoffs is a good sign.
Oh, and I’ve been wondering: What’s going to happen when Jonny Ericsson scores a goal this season? I’m afraid some of us will spontaneously combust from the glory of it all.
Posted by Bella from Clark St. on 03/23/09 at 10:46 AM ET
have we seen Leino and Ericsson on the ice together? I’d like to see what they can do considering how much they’ve played together in GR.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 03/23/09 at 10:58 AM ET
Exactly, mrfluffly. Our power play is our enforcer. Unfortunately, when it doesn’t score, it looks like Jordin Tootoo after playing the Sharks this weekend.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/23/09 at 11:17 AM ET
Very important game for the Flames tonight, with Vancouver breathing down Calgary’s neck for 1st place in the NW division (big thanks to the Coyotes on Sat. night). How about only 28 shots on goal for the Wings for the entire game, rather than the first period this time out, eh boys?
Go Flames Go!
Posted by dash_pinched from Rumour Mill Bay on 03/23/09 at 11:38 AM ET
What’s going to happen when Jonny Ericsson scores a goal this season?
Jonny does’nt “score” goals. Pucks fear him and hide in the net.
Do the Sharks still have any games in hand on us?? Anyone?? Anyone??? Buehler???
Posted by Rumbear from Top O da Hasek, sippin rum & catchin some rays on 03/23/09 at 12:08 PM ET
Phaneuf’s -11 gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.
In at least one recent game he was playign on the third defensive pairing. 
Norris contender, indeed.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 03/23/09 at 12:08 PM ET
Do the Sharks still have any games in hand on us?? Anyone?? Anyone??? Buehler???
No, San Jose used their two games in hand this weekend to pick up a one-point lead.
Now the two teams are even.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 03/23/09 at 12:10 PM ET
You’re a nerd, Jeff . This is great stuff. Well done once again!
I see that the injury list pretty much hasn’t changed from the last meeting with the Flames.
Revenge, Wings. Go do it.
Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 03/23/09 at 01:23 PM ET
Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, reports from Calgary:
Update from the Saddledome in Calgary: Tomas Holmstrom won’t play tonight against the Flames.
Holmstrom strained his right knee March 15 at Columbus when he got caught in a rut.
He said Monday he had some pain, but thought he could play. Naturally enough, the trainers ruled him out, which makes sense since it’s hardly worth risking Holmstrom playing until he’s 100%. He’s entirely too important, both at even strength and especially on the power play.
With Holmstrom out tonight, Derek Meech will play up front.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 03/23/09 at 01:48 PM ET
Jeff you’re previews make ours feel entirely frivolous. Great stuff as always.
Posted by Triple Deke Tyler from Lansing on 03/23/09 at 01:55 PM ET
Revenge, Wings. Go do it.
I credit the Flames for getting it done, but the only team the Wings need to get revenge against for that game is… the Wings. They cashed out after the 2nd period, and cost themselves the game as a result.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 03/23/09 at 03:33 PM ET
Can it be game time now?
I’ve been avoiding work all day, but it’s making the time drag so….freaking…sllloooow…
Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 03/23/09 at 04:13 PM ET
Busy afternoon, always happens on Gameday.
@Tyler: your GDT is much wittier than mine, so they are not frivilous. Dom’s pic are hilarious!
Khan! has tonights lines:
Franzen-Datsyuk-Samuelsson
Cleary-Zetterberg-Hossa
Hudler-Filppula-Kopecky
Meech-Draper-Maltby
Holmstrom (out)Lidstrom-Rafalski
Kronwall-Stuart
Ericsson-Lebda
Chelios (scratch)Osgood (starting)
Conklin
And has news from the (F)Lame,
Workhorse Mikka Kiprusoff starts in net for the Flames. They will be without forwards Todd Bertuzzi (knee), Andre Roy (hand), Rene Bourque (ankle) and Wayne Primeau (foot) and defensemen Mark Giordano (shoulder) and Rhett Warrener (shoulder).
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 03/23/09 at 04:50 PM ET
Can it be game time now?
No $hit. 3 and a half looooooong hours to burn still.
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 03/23/09 at 05:00 PM ET
Tyler…..Until Jeff gets a beret I’d say you have that “females 9-12 years old” demographic locked up!
Posted by Rumbear from Top O da Hasek, sippin rum & catchin some rays on 03/23/09 at 06:45 PM ET
I object to any implications that frivolity is synonymous with uselessness. It makes me fell stabby.
There is absolutely nothing whatsoever wrong with being frivolous!
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 03/23/09 at 07:22 PM ET
Stabby is a state of mind for me. Bitches.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 03/23/09 at 07:36 PM ET
I’m all hopped up on Eight-o-Clock Coffee. These late games are always worth waiting up for.Bitches.
Lets go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 03/23/09 at 07:40 PM ET
Where are my manners? As always, thank you Jeff for your game day numbers and all the nice extras.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 03/23/09 at 07:47 PM ET
The Wings have terrible goaltending,
I would so much love to see Ozzie stuff that down his throat tonight.
Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 03/23/09 at 08:00 PM ET
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Thanks Jeff.very nice previews.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 03/23/09 at 09:38 AM ET