Calgary Flames Daily: Thank goodness for All-Star break
After four consecutive losses in extra time, the Calgary Flames absolutely need this All-Star break as a reset and it couldn’t come at a better time.
Unlike the bye week, the All-Star break is actually coming at a great time for the Calgary Flames. Before the bye week, the Flames were on a seven-game win streak and one of the hottest teams in the league. Since the bye week, they’re 0-0-4. I mean, at least they’ve gotten points in those games and are on a ten-game point streak. But a four-game losing streak isn’t fun, no matter if you get points or not.
Last year after the All-Star break, the Flames were one of the best teams in the league until the end of the season. Let’s hope they have a repeat of that success this year. Because the other Pacific Division teams are catching up to them in the standings.
For Johnny Gaudreau and Mike Smith, they won’t get too much time off since they’re actually going to Tampa for the All-Star festivities. For Smith, his kids are probably more excited than he is. He just got the nod that he’s going a couple days ago when Jonathan Quick opted out of going. Last year, he scored the infamous five-hole shot from across the ice.
Related Story: Flames Daily - Mike Smith going to ASG
Via Calgary Sun:
“My kids, they’ve been asking me for a month now if I’m going to the all-star game and I’ve had to tell them that I’m not,” said Smith, whose plans changed suddenly with a short-notice invite to serve as an injury replacement for Team Pacific this weekend in Tampa, Fla.“So it was nice (Wednesday) to pick my boys up at school and tell them I had for a surprise for them … They thought the surprise was to go to Starbucks and get a snack, but after I told them, they were pretty pumped.”
For Johnny Gaudreau, this will be his fourth All-Star game in his fourth NHL season. That’s quite the feat (it’s the little things). We won’t have Flames hockey for a few days, but that may be good for all of our cardiovascular health.
Some links surrounding the Flames
Flames Thoughts: Battle of Alberta lives up to the hype (Sportsnet).
Another loser point for Flames, another loss to Oilers (Calgary Sun).
Smith & Co. tickled pink to make second-straight all-star game trip (Calgary Sun).
Some links surrounding hockey and the NHL
Autograph ban is bad news for grown-up Golden Knights fans (FanSided).
Former NHLers Kovalchuk, Datsyuk lead Russian Olympic hockey team (CBC Sports).
Forget trying to be funny: NHL puts the emphasis on talent in revamped All-Star skills competition (National Post).
Next: Two former Flames goaltenders heading to Olympics
That’s all in today’s Calgary Flames Daily!