Calgary Flames at San Jose Sharks [Game 37]

			-AT-
			8:00 PM MST
Radio	Network		Arena		Network	Radio
960 AM CFAC	SN		SAP Center		CSNBA	98.5 FM KFOX
League	Value		Metric		Value	League
19th	54.2%		Points Percentage		61.8%	10th
22nd	14.29%		Net Power Play Percentage		21.31%	4th
27th	80.17%		Net Penalty Kill Percentage		91.89%	1st
24th	94.46%		Combined Special Teams Percentage		113.20%	1st
22nd	2.81		Goals for per Game (All Situations)		2.79	23rd
18th	2.94		Goals against per Game (All Situations)		2.47	3rd
10th	.28		Penalty +/- per Game (All Situations)		.32	9th
8th	52.24%		Shot Attempt Percentage (5V5 Score Adjusted)		52.54%	6th
7th	52.69%		Scoring Chance Percentage (5V5 Score Adjusted)		50.36%	14th
21st	99.49%		P.D.O. (5V5)		98.40%	27th
26th	6.92%		Shooting Percentage (5V5)		6.21%	30th
13th	92.57%		Save Percentage (5V5)		92.18%	17th
Data from Hockey-Reference.com and Natural Stat Trick
The Enemies’ Lair
Fear The Fin

The schedule makers weren’t kind to the Calgary Flames coming out of the Christmas break, scheduling them to play three games in three different cities in four nights. They’ll start off tonight in a game against the always dangerous San Jose Sharks. The Sharks have done quite well for themselves, ranking the the top third of the league in points percentage.

Calgary's numbers are close to San Jose's when it comes to their even strength ability – they have an advantage in the scoring chances as well. Unfortunately for the Flames, the Sharks completely school them in the special teams department. They have the top penalty kill and top combined special teams numbers while Calgary ranks 27th and 24th respectively and it would behoove the Flames to take as few penalties as possible.

Travis Hamonic will return to the ice for tonight’s contest as Matt Bartkowski gets kicked back to the press box which is somehow still too good for him. Bartkowski has been disgusting all season long for the Flames and really shouldn’t play at all. Unfortunately Jaromir Jagr still isn’t ready to go, but could play tomorrow night. That means Curtis Lazar draws in on the fourth line which really needs improvement. UPDATE: JAGR BACK!

David Rittich gets the start tonight while Mike Smith will go tomorrow. Across from him will be Martin Jones. Jones is the starter, but Aaron Dell has the better numbers – the Flames are lucky to draw Jones and if Rittich plays the way he has since being called up then they have a very good chance in this contest.

by Les Mavus