Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
The Calgary Flames visit the struggling Ottawa Senators tonight as they start off their last road trip of the season. They will return home on April 9th to play a couple games before their last game in Vancouver on April 13th.
Today, Sean Monahan returns to where it all began in hopes of acquiring his 20th goal of the season. With the minor scoring slump that he’s been in recently, I’m sure he will be working hard towards achieving that goal at home.
The Senators are in 24th place in the league with 74 points while the Flames aren’t far behind, in 26th place with 69 points. The Flames seem to be doing well, winning four of their last six games while the Sens have taken a backseat during the end of the regular season, winning only three of their last ten outings.
Ales Hemsky has done well since his move to Ottawa at the trade deadline, earning 9 points while on the team so far. Kyle Turris has a natural offensive skill that has earned him 5 points in 5 games. And captain Jason Spezza has 4 points in 5 games while Erik Karlsson will be a threat not only on the blue line but in the Flames zone as well. Karlsson has 7 points in 5 games, including 3 goals and 4 assists.
The projected lines for the Flames leave Ladislav Smid off the roster for tonight’s tilt in Ontario due to an odd hit against the end boards in the last game against the Rangers which left him with an upper body injury. With Kevin Westgarth earning two goals and an assist in the last few games, as well as Brian McGrattan adding a goal and an assist, the EnergyLine has proven that they are more than just pretty faces in the Flames franchise.
Monahan due for a goal after a minor scoring slump as of late. Hopefully he can get his 20th goal of the season back at home. And with Mike Cammalleri on a hot streak lately, earning 4 goals and 4 assists in his last 5 games, the Flames will be counting on him to help the team get on the board early in hopes of staying and remaining ahead of the Senators for a win.
Puck drop is early, 5pm EST/3pm MST.
Go Flames Go!