Flyers embark on another trip to the West, kick off with new-look Flames

Last season, Olli Jokinen played his first game as a Flame against the Flyers. This season, he may be playing his last. It’s rumored that Jokinen may be headed to New York City to play for the Rangers in exchange for Ales Kotalik and Chris Higgins. TSN’s Bob Mackenzie is reporting that Jokinen will in fact dress for the Flames tonight, because there has been some stalling in the trade talks.

Yesterday, the Flames acquired Niklas Hagman, Matt Stajan, Ian White and Jamal Mayers from the Toronto Maple Leafs and sent tenured defenseman Dion Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom, and a prospect the other way. Surely, the new faces have already played with each other all season, but will they be able to click immediately with the rest of the Flames? If Jokinen’s success in his first game with the Flames last year is any indication, the Flyers may have a situation on their hands tonight.

Speaking of the Flyers, they’re coming off a semi-successful home stand. They’ve won four of their last six, and although the majority of those games were played with sloppy fashion, the points earned from them will prove to be crucial down the stretch. The Flyers are 6-4-0 in their last ten meetings with the Flames, and tonight’s game is their only match-up this season.

The Flames have been struggling as of late, and with the addition of several new players, it may just look like a pee wee hockey team is up against us tonight. Was Olli Jokinen kept on the roster because the Flames need some offensive firepower before they continue making moves, or did the trade talks really fall through? I guess we’ll find out.

The lines for tonight’s game are projected to stay the same as Saturday’s lines, and Ray Emery is likely to get the start in net again tonight for the orange and black. Look for some defensive changes though, because Lukas Krajecek is expected to play his first game tonight.

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