Calgary Flames Daily: Every game is a must-win game

The Calgary Flames go back in action tonight vs. a Pacific Division opponent. And like every game these past two weeks, this one is a must-win game.

The Calgary Flames will face the San Jose Sharks tonight in a must-win game for both teams. It seems like I’ve been saying that for every Flames game lately. And we’ll continue to say that until the end of the season. The Flames right now sit right outside a playoff spot with 35 points in 31 games. The Sharks are in the third Pacific Division spot with 35 points in 29 games. A win for either team will put them in that spot.

If the Sharks lose, they still have a chance at remaining in a wildcard spot, depending on how the Minnesota Wild game goes. But again, like we’ve been saying, this is a must-win game.

Mike Smith will get the nod between the pipes tonight. Last season vs. the Sharks, he was 2-1-1 with an SV% of 0.938. So far in December, the Sharks are 3-2-1 while the Flames are 2-2-2. The Flames are also on a four-game point streak, their longest of the season. They’ve also been outshooting their opponents in every game for the last seven games.

This will be the first of four meetings between the two Pacific Division opponents. I would say rivals, but they don’t quite have that rivalry yet. The Flames will have to watch for Brent Burns though. He has three goals and six points in his last three games.

Something else surrounding Calgary Flames news is Johnny Gaudreau‘s shootout move vs. the Minnesota Wild the other night. It sparked some controversy and Sportsnet held a poll on whether or not the goal should have counted. As of right now, 54% say it should have counted. So quite evenly split down the middle.

It’s sparking controversy because some people say that Gaudreau’s skates went backwards, but after review, the officials found that the puck was still moving forward at all times, so it’s a good goal.

Via Calgary Sun:

“I could see why people might think it’s not a goal … a little bit,” said Gaudreau on Wednesday, who was skating parallel to the goal-line as he moved backwards.“Personally I was moving forward the whole time. My skates didn’t really go backwards, they went sideways a little bit. I’m sure people have their different opinions, but they called it a goal, so lucky for me.”“Just knowing the league — they’re not going to reverse goals unless it’s clear,” said Gulutzan, whose club eventually fell 2-1 when the Wild’s fifth shooter, Mikael Granlund, beat goalie Mike Smith with no response from the Flames.“If it’s debatable, the league’s not into taking away goals.You can look at a lot of shootout goals with some of the different moves guys make, they drag and pull themselves sideways — they’re just creative these days. I think with these types of goals if you see it excessively they’ll call it, but if it’s arguable they’re not going to take that creativity away. Hey, the guys loved the goal. People liked the goal.”

Do you think it was a good goal? I’m biased so obviously, I’ll say yes. But it doesn’t quite matter since the Flames still lost in the shootout.

Some links surrounding the Flames

GameDay: Here’s how the Sharks and Flames match up (Calgary Sun).

Gaudreau’s sweet shootout move begs big question (Calgary Herald).

Flames’ Sean Monahan flying under the radar as one of Canada’s elite players (Sportsnet).

Johnny Gaudreau’s nifty shootout goal vs. Wild causes controversy (Sportsnet).

Some links surrounding hockey and the NHL

3 things we learned in the NHL: Kari wasn’t Lehtonen many goals (Sportsnet).

Neil looks forward to life after the NHL (Ottawa Senators).

NHL100 Classic By the Numbers (NHL.com).

U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductees see bright future for game (NHL.com).

Next: Sean Monahan is the definition of clutch

That’s all in today’s Calgary Flames Daily!