Buffalo Sabres at Calgary Flames [Game 47]

			-AT-
			7:00 PM MST
Radio	Network		Arena		Network	Radio
550 AM WGR	MSGB		Scotiabank Saddledome		SN	960 AM CFAC
League	Value		Metric		Value	League
30th	33.7%		Points Percentage		59.8%	12th
31st	8.57%		Net Power Play Percentage		14.74%	23rd
23rd	81.16%		Net Penalty Kill Percentage		82.12%	20th
31st	89.73%		Combined Special Teams Percentage		96.86%	22nd
31st	2.24		Goals for per Game (All Situations)		2.87	20th
29th	3.52		Goals against per Game (All Situations)		2.76	10th
16th	.04		Penalty +/- per Game (All Situations)		.11	15th
30th	46.01%		Shot Attempt Percentage (5V5 Score Adjusted)		52.22%	7th
30th	45.55%		Scoring Chance Percentage (5V5 Score Adjusted)		52.51%	8th
29th	97.91%		P.D.O. (5V5)		100.43%	14th
30th	6.29%		Shooting Percentage (5V5)		7.18%	22nd
26th	91.62%		Save Percentage (5V5)		93.25%	4th
Data from Hockey-Reference.com and Natural Stat Trick
The Enemies’ Lair
Die By The Blade

The Calgary Flames welcome the Buffalo Sabres to town looking to get back into the win column. The Sabres are the perfect opponent to do so against as they aren’t very good – dead last in the Eastern Conference, dead last in goal differential, dead last in offense, dead last in special teams, and well – just generally bad. With individuals with the violence history of Evander Kane, the general craziness of Robin Lehner, and the guy-who-thinks-he-is-the-G.M. Jack Eichel on the team, they aren’t even lovable losers. They’re just not a fun team and hopefully Calgary handles their business en route back to their winning ways.

Marek Hrivik is in the lineup at the expense of Andrew Mangiapane for some reason. Glen Gulutzan’s systems are working wonderfully, but his player utilization is bewildering at best. With a -6.26% relative Corsi in score adjusted five-on-five play, the team needs to cut their losses with Curtis Lazar and ice the best lineup – the only reason he shouldn’t be in the press box is if the team is dealing with injury and even then he should be leapfrogged by somebody in Stockton as his play does not warrant ice time.

Mike Smith gets the start tonight. He’s up against one of the members of the Flames goaltending battery last year in Chad Johnson. Chad Johnson has be horrid this year, but that’s not necessarily anything to put stock in as he’s not as bad as his numbers and is do for some regression. Still, it’s better than having to go up against Lehner.

Puck drop is at 7:05 P.M. M.S.T.

by Les Mavus