May 06--FROM CALGARY, Canada -- Greetings from the Scotiabank Saddledome, where Calgary Flames fans will be out in numbers Tuesday--and will be loud--when their team tries to get back into its Western Conference semifinal playoff series against the Ducks. The Ducks won the first two games, at Anaheim, by a combined 9-1.
The Flames were expected to make one lineup change Tuesday. Coach Bob Hartley said defenseman Raphael Diaz, who had been sidelined by a lower-body injury, would play alongside David Schlemko. However, Hartley didn't say who will come out of the lineup. The likely candidate is Tyler Wotherspoon, who played only six minutes and two seconds in Game 2.
"If Raffy can give us some power-play time and give us some solid play in our zone, first pass out of the zone is always great, great shot, he's a veteran," Hartley said. "He's played in this league before so it's good news."
In addition, Hartley said he will make a game-time decision on whether to play forward Micheal[ca] Ferland, who missed Game 2 because of an undisclosed injury. Although Hartley separated his top trio of Jiri Hudler, Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau for most of Game 2 he had the three forwards taking line rushes together on Tuesday so it's likely they'll be reunited.
The Ducks weren't expected to make any changes. Jason LaBarbera was scheduled to back up starting goaltender Frederik Andersen for the third straight game, after John Gibson was idled by a bout with the flu. However, Gibson made the trip to Calgary.
One more Ducks note: center Ryan Getzlaf on Monday was named a finalist for the Mark Messier Leadership award, which goes to "the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season." Getzlaf, the Ducks' captain, said Tuesday he was flattered to be considered along with Winnipeg's Andrew Ladd and Chicago's Jonathan Toews.
"It's a pretty big guy to be following. Messier left quite the legacy on the game," Getzlaf said of the six-time Stanley Cup champion. "To be noticed in the same category is quite the honor."
He also said the nomination is a tribute to his teammates' willingness to follow his lead for the good of the team.
"A lot of it does depend on your group. You can do anything you want but if guys aren't willing to buy in and do the things that we need to do, I don't look like much of a leader," he said. "I'm pretty fortunate to have the group that I have in here and the surrounding older players that do take the reins on this team."
