Calgary Flames Daily: Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk finally in
By Ramina Shlah
Happy Monday Calgary Flames fans! Let’s check out some news that’s been surrounding this team over the last day.
Who says Mondays have to be all bad when there’s hockey on! The Calgary Flames will be facing the Winnipeg Jets for some preseason action. They’ll play the Jets one more time in their last preseason game before the season starts up (next Wednesday).
In tonight’s game, Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk will be in the lineup. This will be Tkachuk’s first game in preseason since he was dealing with some uncomfortableness in his hip. Head coach Glen Gulutzan kept reiterating that it was not an injury, he was out of the lineup as a precaution.
Sean Monahan sat out in the last two games, in the last one against the Arizona Coyotes as somewhat of a maintenance day.
One guy who will be in the game tonight as well is D Brett Kulak, who will mainly be fighting for that sixth or seventh defenseman spot. And hopefully get a full-time job on the Flames roster this season.
Calgary Flames
Via Calgary Herald:
"I think back to the last couple of years a lot, and it’s the same type of thing. When you’re battling with one or two other guys, it’s pretty apparent. For me, it’s about my preparation away from the rink, making sure I’m doing the right things for my body just so I can be the best I can be at practice or games.And also, I can’t always be looking at the other guy and comparing myself to the other guy … You try not to focus on what your competition is doing as much. You go out there and you have to try to just make your game better every single day.It’s much easier said than done. That’s 90 per cent of the battle, for sure, is just staying within myself."
But he’s not the only one fighting for that spot. There’s also Matt Bartkowski, Rasmus Andersson, Tyler Wotherspoon, and newest Flame, Juuso Valimaki.
Right now, Wotherspoon has been with the Flames the longest and feels like he may have his shot this year.
"I just feel like I’m at the prime part of my career. I’ve been in this league before. I’ve had tastes of it. I’ve played a lot in the AHL, I’ve grown a lot, and I just feel like this is the year that I can really play big minutes and play full-time here.I’m just trying to show the Flames that I can do that, and hopefully they give me that shot."
Only two out of those five will be the sixth and seventh defensemen. Let the Hunger Games begin.
Links surrounding the Flames
Flames blue-line bubble boys bidding for two jobs at Saddledome (Calgary Herald).
Flames defenceman T.J. Brodie avoids offseason weight gain (Calgary Sun).
Flames Face Looming Decisions In Net (the Hockey Writers).
Projected lineup – Flames @ Jets (Calgary Flames).
Links surrounding hockey and the NHL
Fleury has successful debut with Golden Knights (NHL.com).
NHL director of officiating: Players will adapt to rule changes (Sportsnet).
5 things learned from Sept. 24 preseason games (NHL.com).
NHL slashing crackdown might be tough to enforce (Toronto Star).
Next: 10 days until the season starts: #10 Gary Roberts
And that’s all we have for you in this edition of Flames Daily!