Morning Skate: Sunday, 1/4
Today’s Slate:
Panthers @ Canadiens, 2:00 ET
Lightning @ Thrashers, 5:00
Senators @ Devils, 5:00
Flames @ Blackhawks, 7:00
Coyotes @ Ducks, 8:00
Wild @ Avalanche, 8:00
Stars @ Canucks, 10:00
Game of the Day:
Calgary Flames (23-11-4) @ Chicago Blackhawks (20-8-7)
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks
Players to watch:
CGY- Dion Phaneuf
Phaneuf is pointless in the last 8 games.
CHI- Patrick Kane
Kane has 4 points (2 G, 2 A) in the two games against Calgary this year.
Projected Goaltenders:
CGY- Miikka Kiprusoff (Yesterday @ NSH: 24 Saves, 2 GA)
CHI- Nikolai Khabibulin (08-09 stats: 11-2-4, 2.41 GAA)
Injury Report:
CGY- Wayne Primeau (foot, out), Jim Vandermeer (foot, out), Brandon Prust (jaw, out), Rhett Warrener (shoulder, out)
CHI- Brent Sopel (undisclosed, out)
Last Ten Games:
Flames (7-0-3) … Blackhawks (8-2-0)
Season Series:
2-0 Blackhawks
Game Thoughts:
Chicago was rolling along, winning 9 straight going into the home-and-home with Detroit. The Wings punched them in the mouth, so I expect them to respond at home. Calgary won in Nashville yesterday, 3-2 in dramatic fashion. They have not lost a game in regulation since December 9th. With all this said, I expect the Flames to be a step slower than the ‘Hawks, giving the home team the edge in this one.
Prediction: Blackhawks 4, Flames 1
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Canadiens over Panthers
Thrashers over Lightning
Devils over Senators
Coyotes over Ducks
Avalanche over Wild
Canucks over Stars
