Calgary Flames Set To Welcome Back Lance Bouma Again
It seems the Calgary Flames have made a habit of welcoming Lance Bouma back from injury this season, as they will against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh.
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Bouma is set to return to the line-up following his four game rest due to a leg laceration.
Lance, no doubt, wanted to get back out there for the Calgary Flames, but as with all sports these days, the medical staff will generally err on the side of caution. It wasn’t the first leg injury suffered by the physical forward; Lance had earlier sat out a good three months due to a broken leg.
The good news is unlike last time, he isn’t likely to be anywhere near as rusty and should easily be at the same pace as his Calgary Flames teammates straight away; a break is definitely going to slow you more so than a gash.
Related Story: Calgary Flames Welcome Back Lance Bouma
In his previous five game stint in the Calgary Flames line-up, Bouma has a plus/minus score of +3. This is indicative of his two-way game; in that time he only offered up the one point but it’s a guarantee he was offering up much moire in terms of effort on both the back and fore-check.
The removal of Lance Bouma from the injury reserve list for the Calgary Flames should create problems in the line-up, with one too many guys up with the ‘big team’. However, that’s not quite the case.
“You just have to go with it because injuries happen.” – Lance Bouma (Calgary Herald)
Instead as one returns for the Calgary Flames, another takes his place out injured and whilst Lance Bouma and Michael Ferland won’t be a straight swap in terms of on-ice combinations, they might as well be.
These injuries are saving the Calgary Flames from having to make any real decision on who to send down to Stockton.
The physical game of Bouma will be much welcomed for the Calgary Flames. “He finishes his hits, he’s for sure our best shot blocker on the team – up front anyway,” said likely line-mate Matt Stajan in a Flames’ official website news article.
Lance isn’t one to be too philosophical about injuries saying to Kristen Odland of the Calgary Herald: “you just have to go with it because injuries happen so you just have to stay positive.”
Philosophical or not though, he’ll be hoping he can put an end to his stints on the sideline this year starting with the game in Raleigh.
Next: Calgary Flames Will Be Missing Ferland Against Hurricanes
How much have the Calgary Flames missed Lance Bouma’s physicality when he’s been down injured this year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.