The Calgary Flames return to action tonight vs. the Vegas Golden Knights. Michael Frolik will also return to the lineup tonight from injury.
The Calgary Flames will return to the lineup tonight after the All-Star break. They’ll be playing the Vegas Golden Knights for the first time ever. Michael Frolik will finally return to the lineup tonight. In late December, Frolik learned the hard way to not take a Brent Burns slap shot to the face. He faced a broken jaw and required surgery.
He’ll, unfortunately, have to be without a fellow Czech legend – Jaromir Jagr. After Jagr cleared waivers yesterday, this wasn’t yet announced when we put out our Flames Daily yesterday, but the Flames assigned him to Kladno. Meaning they can still get him back if the Flames were to make the playoffs, but it isn’t likely.
Back to the Flames, they’re currently on an 11-game point streak. However, they are on a four-game losing streak. Which, I’ll admit, we (Flames fans) have all been quite dramatic about it and really think it’s the end of the world. But 18 of a possible 22 points since Dec. 31st is quite good. That’s the second best since that time after the Boston Bruins.
Related Story: Flames Daily - Frolik injured
The Golden Knights have lost four of their last seven games, but they’re still one of the best teams in the league. Which is something none of us thought we would be saying when the season first started.
Via Calgary Sun:
"“I think we’re all kind of a little bit shocked, I think the whole hockey world is,” Stajan said Monday afternoon from the Saddledome. “I just think when you hear the word expansion and a new team coming in, it’s just a natural thing that they’re going to take a while to catch up with the rest of the league.“That’s usually just what happens in every league that’s seen expansion. So that’s just what everybody thought.”They play fast, they move the puck well, they work exceptionally hard and I just think it’s tough to find the right mix, but they found that mix right away,” said Flames captain Mark Giordano. “(In the expansion draft) they had a good group of players to pick from and some guys who maybe weren’t getting a great opportunity where they were, and are getting a great opportunity now.“I know as a player, coming into the league when I was younger, when you get your chance you want to prove yourself.”"
The Calgary Flames are third place in the Pacific Division right now, but the LA Kings and Anaheim Ducks are just one point back from them. So they really need to start winning games again (obviously).
Flames Tweet of the day
With Jagr gone, I want to share my favorite obscure stat about him. While on the podcast this summer I looked up Jagr's elite prospects page to see something, and noticed during the 94 lockout he played a single game in the Germany3 league. One game. 1 goal, 10 assists, 11 points
— Joe Fortunato (@JoeFortunatoBSB) January 29, 2018
Hockey Tweet of the day
With Jagr now back in the Czech Republic, a reminder that an opera called NAGANO was a real thing after the country's gold-medal win in '98. That's "Hasek" break-dance goaltending. pic.twitter.com/YnGKmqHPAY
— jos (@JoePack) January 30, 2018
Some links surrounding the Flames
GameDay: Golden Knights at Flames (Calgary Sun).
Calgary Flames say it’s time to talk about mental health (660 News).
Flames don’t expect Golden Knights to slow down (Calgary Sun).
Jaromir Jagr’s NHL career appears over as Flames assign him to Czech team (CBC Sports).
Some links surrounding hockey and the NHL
Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy back at practice (FanSided).
‘The greatest rivalry in sports’: Canada, U.S. on another collision course for women’s hockey gold (CBC Sports).
NHL could place time limit on official video reviews (Sportsnet).
Bye Weeks Ruin the NHL Regular Season (The Hockey Writers).
Next: Flames at ASG - Highlights
That’s all in today’s Flames Daily!