It’s game day! After losing their last game to the Winnipeg Jets, the Calgary Flames are hoping to get back into the win-column tonight vs. the Buffalo Sabres.
The Calgary Flames are hoping to get back into the win column tonight vs. one of the worst teams in the league, the Buffalo Sabres. On a positive note, they’re still undefeated in regulation in 2018 so far and are on an eight-game point streak. But they lost their seven-game win streak on Saturday in a shootout loss. Let’s hope they won’t be too confident facing the Sabres tonight because we know how the Flames play when they get too confident.
In a surprising turn, Mike Smith will be getting the start tonight. Many people were anticipating and somewhat hoping that David Rittich would get the nod tonight. He’s been an extremely reliable backup but has only been getting back-to-back starts. He’s only started in five games so far this season and is 4-0-1 in those five starts. A start vs. the Sabres could have been good, he gets more games in, the Flames show they have confidence in him, and Mike Smith can take a break.
Marek Hrivik will also get in the lineup tonight while Andrew Mangiapane will sit. This may not necessarily be anything bad on Mangiapane. Remember: Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk were both healthy scratches in their early NHL careers as well. But this is a good opportunity for Hrivik to get in the lineup. Although, I would have maybe preferred Curtis Lazar to sit over Mangiapane, but oh well.
Related Story: Flames seven-game win streak comes to an end
Via Calgary Flames:
"“I’m just going to try to use my speed and create some opportunities for my linemates and be strong in the offensive zone and make good plays,” Hrivik told reporters following his team’s morning skate.“I just like his size and his speed; I thought he played well in Carolina,” said head coach Glen Gulutzan. “We took Mang out today and we’ve thought Mang has played well, but we’re in a situation here where we can maybe look at some guys and I thought just the way he’s practiced [and played] with them in the game, he’s earned the chance to come in tonight and show us what he’s got.”"
The Flames have been playing quite well lately, but have also been outshot in their last five games. Quite the opposite results happening than in December, where they were outshooting their opponents in almost every game but weren’t getting rewarded.
If the Flames can keep up the way they’ve been playing, they may not only make the playoffs, but they may even get home-ice advantage. For the first time since 2006.
Tweets of the day
I feel so bad for people who don’t like sports. They never experience the thrill of maybe being happy once every 10-20 years
— Daniel Victor (@bydanielvictor) January 22, 2018
Some links surrounding the Flames
Game Day: Flames hope to get back on winning track against Sabres (Calgary Sun).
Flames winger Frolik progressing in recovery from broken jaw (Calgary Sun).
HRIVIK BACK IN THE LINEUP (Calgary Flames).
Some links surrounding hockey and the NHL
2018 Calder Trophy race: 5 best rookies in the NHL (FanSided).
Paul Coffey hired as development coach for Oilers (FanSided).
USA Hockey’s Jim Johannson dies at 53 (FanSided).
Golden Knights beat Hurricanes, take over first place in NHL (Sportsnet).
Next: Should the Flames trade Micheal Ferland?
That’s all in today’s Flames Daily!