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Roster Implications Looming as Tkachuk Returns to Calgary |
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You have to wonder what Flames Head Coach Darryl Sutter’s approach has been with two full days off between the team’s 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes and tonight’s showdown against Matthew Tkachuk and the visiting Florida Panthers.
Despite a score of 3-2, there aren’t many positives to say about Calgary’s last game.
Andrew Mangiapane stood up for his goalie after Daniel Vladar was crashed into by Sabastian Aho.
Micheal Stone’s return from a 21 day absence brought back his ability to get pucks on net. A factor that resuscitated the Flames powerplay at least for one goal. Adam Ruzicka put away a Stone rebound late in the first period.
Calgary had gone 0/9 since their last powerplay conversion — another late first period Adam Ruzicka goal. Their drought extended three entire games, or, more specifically, 11 periods.
The team has seemingly taking their game to the opposition less and less. Maybe eight or nine minutes against Carolina saw the Flames hemming the Hurricanes into their own end by means of puck management.
Daniel Vladar would be the last positive to draw out of the loss, saving 28 of 29 even strength shots on goal.
To that point, it appears Flames coaching brass agrees. Vladar starts tonight against what will be an exceptionally hungry Florida Panthers squad. This will be Vladar’s third start in four games. Since November 10, Daniel’s stats have been impressive. With one exception.
Since November 10 — Daniel Vladar
0-2-1
Sv%: .939
GAA: 1.97
His first and only win this season came in game two against the Edmonton Oilers on October 15. The team in front of him has been plummeting his record since then.
The question entering tonight is:
Despite above-average play, will Vladar lose his sixth game in seven starts?
You have to imagine Darryl has mentioned it to a team needing motivation. A rally point if you will.
Let’s take a look at the lineup courtesy of Pat Steinberg. @Fan960Steinberg
Huberdeau-Lindholm-Toffoli
Dube-Kadri-Mangiapane
Ruzicka-Backlund-Coleman
Lucic-Lewis-Ritchie
Hanifin-Andersson
Weegar-Tanev
Zadorov-Stone
Vladar
Markstrom
Return of Saint Matthew
The crowd will likely be a in a state of flux tonight as Matthew Tkachuk returns to Calgary after being traded to the Florida Panthers this offseason. The pugnacious winger has done well for himself since arriving in the Sunshine State.
Matthew Tkachuk — 22-23 Campaign
Games Played: 20
Goals: 10
Assists: 19
Points: 29 (9th in the NHL)
Penalties Drawn: 15 (4th in the NHL)
Penalties Taken: 13
Given that the Panthers played last night in Edmonton – giving up a one-goal lead with five seconds remaining in the third period — then following that up with a classic Leon Draisatl overtime goal set up by Connor McDavid — Florida may be coming into the building with a chip on their shoulder. Not to mention the team has lost two straight in overtime.
With a goal and an assist in last night’s loss and seven points in his last five games, St. Matthew will be coming into the Saddledome with his confidence at a zenith point.
The Backlund Bump
Let’s be real for a second. When a team scores two power play goals in nine opportunities over five games and those goals come from the same player — when a player is seventh in scoring on the team, but 15th in ice time per game — when a player leads the team in scoring per 60 minutes of ice time — that player probably shouldn’t be mucking it up with Lucic and Ritchie on the fourth line.
Lucic and Ritchie do their job, and, to their credit, are likely not 100%. They have three points since the end of Brett Ritchie’s heater on November 3.
With that said, 23-year-old Slovak Adam Ruzicka moves to a coveted place in the lineup tonight. That being on the left side of Backlund and Coleman. Per Dobber Sports, the three have played about a minute and a half together so far this season. Likely more just trains passing in the night between line changes.
Just jumping back to Lucic and Ritchie for our last point.
The Wranglers Provide Options
Three goals and six assists in four games earned Matthew Phillips the title of American Hockey League Player of the Week. He now sits on top of the league in scoring with 26 points in 18 games. How much hotter does a player need to get before they take a spot from a possibly injured veteran?
It doesn’t stop at Phillips. After an oddly slow start, four points in eight games, Jakob Pelletier has 17 points in his last ten games. He also has a goal in each of his last six games. His hard nosed back checking style is back.
Per Capfriendly, the Flames have $1,711,949 in cap space. $5,543,455 by the deadline. It’s understandable that a call up hasn’t been made of late given the Flames being on the road and the Wranglers playing four games in seven days.
Which leads us to question number two for tonight:
What happens to the roster if Daniel Vladar loses his sixth game in seven starts?
Trevor Neufeld
@Trevor_Neufeld
Stats via dobbersports.com, naturalstattrick.com, nhl.com, theahl.com and capfriendly.com.
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