Oct 21, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) and Calgary Flames center Paul Byron (32). One’s an annual threat for 50 goals, one’s on a 13 game goal-less streak. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
The Calgary Flames should win Thursday night because they now have their “MoJoJo” going – – Sean Monahan, Josh Jooris, Johnny Gaudreau.
The matchup on Thursday November 6th between our Calgary Flames and the Tampa Bay Lightning will be the 2nd meeting this season between the 2004 Stanley Cup finalists.
The first meeting between the Flames and Lightning was on October 21st. It was Calgary’s first home game after a 6 game road trip. Dennis Wideman scored the 1st goal of the game at the 1:12 mark of the 3rd period. Alas, it was the only marker the Flames would put on the board as they fell 2-1 in overtime to the Bolts.
Former Tampa Bay Lightning goalie and now definitive Calgary Flames backup goalie, Karri Ramo was saddled with the hard luck loss. Ramo has watched Jonas Hiller start 4 consecutive games.
I hope Karri Ramo gets the start against the Lightning for two reasons:
- I don’t care how much players deny revving up a little extra to play their old teams, I think they do.
- With “lower than us” opponents coming up with a weird Saturday matinee in Florida then Carolina on Monday, I want Hiller in net to help hopefully avoid the sag down to the competition level.
For this meeting with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Flames will be without the services of Joe Colborne, Mikael Backlund, Matt Stajan, and Mason Raymond. Sadly, we Flames fans will be without that “Feared Foursome” for quite some time but as Flame For Thought writer so correctly wrote in her latest article, “Rookies Rule!”
When these teams first met, it was Johnny Gaudreau‘s second game after the now infamous benching. It was also only Josh Jooris‘ second pro game.
Enter Markus Granlund and his 3 points in 3 games. Add in Sean Monahan who had 0 goals leading into the first meeting with the Bolts and now has 4 goals in the last 5 games heading into this 2nd meeting with the Bolts.
Lastly, a “spell” to try to help Paul Byron finally find the back of the net. Byron has not scored since opening night.
"‘Good Luck Chant Spell’to the moonto the sunto the skies to the water stars let your fires burnwinds let your strength grow let us unite let me shine bright"