take too long to get back the timing ... hopefully we can get the bugs out of the way early and get better and better as the game goes on."

Joni Ortio will make his fifth consecutive start tonight for the Flames, in what may be his most challenging game yet. The Anaheim Ducks are a physical imposing group who don't mind crashing the net. They're second in the league in goals scored with 206, trailing just the Chicago Blackhawks (218), and they are sitting in second place in the Western Conference with 93 points.

According to had coach Bob Hartley, this game is a great evaluation period for the organization.

"We want to know, 'Who is Joni Ortio?'" Hartley said in his post-practice media address. "The best way is togoose egg coming on Jan. 12, 2012.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY T-SPOON

Rookie defenceman Tyler Wotherspoon is celebrating his 21st birthday today and will celebrate by playing in his fourth NHL game. He made his debut on Mar. 7 in the Flames 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders and collected his first NHL point on Mar. 8 when he assisted on Brian McGrattan's goal against the Vancouver Canucks.

The Flames drafted the Surrey, BC native in the second round of the 2011 NHL Draft.

LIKE A BRICKWALL

The Flames have three players amongst the NHL's top 10 shot blockers; Chris Butler is third in the league with 169, Ladislav Smid is tied for fifth with 152, and Kris Russell sits in eighth with 142.