Ladies and gentleman the next opponent for our Calgary Flames – – Jarome Iginla and his Colorado Avalanche. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Despite the fact the Calgary Flames have lost back-to-back games to the Vancouver Canucks, I stand tall and proud behind my belief that Calgary Flames will not finish last in the Pacific Division! In case you missed it, here are my season predictions as well as Flame For Thought writer Traci Kay plus 4 other FanSided team members, HERE.
Good morning Calgary Flames fans!!
The next opponent our Calgary Flames take on will be Jarome Iginla’s Colorado Avalanche. Here’s today challenge for you Flames fans – – say “Jarome Iginla’s Colorado Avalanche” without shaking your head. The teams meet Sunday night in Colorado then Tuesday night at the Dome. One would hope that if the Avalanche dress Iginla for only one of the two meetings, it would be the meeting here in Calgary.
#Flames coach Bob Hartley says Markus Granlund (upper body) will be evaluated further tomorrow. He played in the first two periods.
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) September 27, 2014
I hope Markus Granlund is alright and that we see him play at least one more time this preseason. I never anticipated Granlund starting the regular season with our Calgary Flames but no one ever wishes an injury upon an up-and-coming player.
I keep Google-ing Mikael Backlund’s name for an injury update but cannot find any predictions on when/if Backlund plays in a preseason game and/or if he will be ready for the season opener on October 8th. With 1st round draft pick Sam Bennett virtually a lock to play in NHL regular season opener (a la Sean Monahan and Matt Stajan), even without Backlund our Calgary Flames would still have Lance Bouma and Joe Colborne to choose from to fill that final center position. That said, the Calgary Flames are a better team with Mikael Backlund in the lineup.
It seems the Calgary Flames would like to play Sam Bennett with Jiri Hudler on the wing. In Friday’s game versus Vancouver Paul Byron finished that forward combination. Paul Byron played a solid game with the duo. Solid enough that I would like to see the trio together again Sunday night in Colorado. I am not on the train of thought of playing Johnny Gaudreau and Sam Bennett on the same line (except the powerplay)!
Have a great day Flames fans!