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Calgary Flames Daily: Four straight, Hrivik still waiting

By Ramina Shlah

ST. PAUL, MN - JANUARY 09: Calgary Flames defenseman Dougie Hamilton (27) is congratulated by the Flames after scoring in overtime during the Western Conference game between the Calgary Flames and the Minnesota Wild on January 9, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Flames defeated the Wild 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - JANUARY 09: Calgary Flames defenseman Dougie Hamilton (27) is congratulated by the Flames after scoring in overtime during the Western Conference game between the Calgary Flames and the Minnesota Wild on January 9, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Flames defeated the Wild 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Calgary Flames are riding a four-game win streak after last night’s win. But Marek Hrivik is still waiting to make his Flames debut.

Well, 2018 has been fun, hasn’t it? The Calgary Flames are currently on a four-game win streak – a season high. They remain one of only three teams undefeated in 2018, along with the Washington Capitals and the Colorado Avalanche. Ah, yes. The Caps, Avs, and Flames. Just as we all suspected.

The Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Micheal Ferland line are all finally finding their games again. They had an incredible start to the season, but when December hit, they somewhat took a dip. But they’re getting back in the running again. In the last five games, Gaudreau has nine points, Monahan has eight points, and Ferland has seven. Ferland also has 18 goals on the year, three more than his career-high.

With Monahan’s goal yesterday, he hit that 20 goal mark for the fifth time in his career. He now has five straight seasons of 20+ goals to start his career becoming just the second Flame to ever do that. The first was Joe Nieuwendyk who did that from 1987-92. Monahan is definitely shaping up to be one of the best goal scorers in Calgary Flames history.

Related Story: Underrated centreman - Sean Monahan

Mike Smith also made 33 saves last night and continues to be the best goaltender on the road this season. His 0.944 sv% on the road is the best among all goaltenders in the NHL. He made some key saves last night and was sharp when needing to be, especially with his glove.

Via Calgary Sun:

"“I don’t think we’re in these games if it’s not for him,” said Hamilton of Smith post-game. “He played great again today. I thought they had some really good chances, and that’s a good team in this rink.“We just have to keep rolling.”“To be honest, I don’t think it was one of our better games we’ve played, especially lately,” Smith said. “We’ve played a lot better games lately. Saying that, you never complain too much about getting a win. The main thing is we got the two points and found a way to do that, and we did that.”"

The Calgary Flames continue their road trip tomorrow night vs. the number one team, the Tampa Bay Lightning. They did, however, lose to the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators this past week. So 2018 isn’t as nice to them as it’s been to the Flames.

With a back-to-back with the Bolts then the Florida Panthers the next day, we’ll be seeing David Rittich making another start again! Which game yet is still unknown, but he’ll most likely play vs. the Panthers while Smith gets the start vs. the Lightning.

On another note, Marek Hrivik is still waiting to make his Flames debut. After being called up after Freddie Hamilton was placed on waivers and picked up by Arizona, he’s still watching from the sidelines.

Via Calgary Sun:

"“It’s quite a bit of change,” said the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder. “Down there, I was playing a lot of minutes, and coming up here, it’s not quite the same. It’s a totally different role. But, you know, that’s what I have to do to stay at this level, and I’ll do that.”“I’ve probably only been to six or seven or eight rinks, maybe,” Hrivik said. “I’ve never been to this one, though.”“The whole year for me is totally different,” Hrivik said. “Even down there in the AHL, I was playing in the East for the past five years and this is my first time playing out West. Every single team we played this year, I’ve never played before.“Obviously, you’re in the same league but playing totally different opponents. It’s a totally different year for me and a big change.”"

He may finally find himself in the Calgary Flames lineup at some point on this road trip.

Flames Tweet of the day

Hockey Tweet of the day

Some links surrounding the Flames

Flames win fourth straight to start road trip on right foot (Calgary Sun).

Hamilton’s overtime goal lifts Flames past Wild (Sportsnet).

Hrivik waits for Flames debut (Calgary Sun).

Some links surrounding hockey around FanSided

Matthew Bowers of Puck Prose looks at the possibility of Nikita Kucherov potentially winning four major NHL awards this season.

George Ruggiero of Blue Line Station ranks the entire Metropolitan division at the midseason mark.

Samuel Campbell of Pens Labyrinth looks at a trade where the Penguins should acquire Anthony Duclair.

Some other links around the internet surrounding hockey and the NHL

5 storylines to watch in NHL’s 2nd half, plus an early Cup prediction (CBC Sports).

NHL mid-season awards: Lightning dominate voting (Sportsnet).

Breaking down the five best goaltender performances of the NHL’s first half (Sportsnet).

Next: Flames extend win streak to four games

That’s all in today’s Flames Daily!

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