This week is a big one for the Flames as they’re chasing 100 points on the season, too, just like Johnny Gaudreau who is one shy of reaching that mark for the first time in his career. The team is three points away from that number which would make them the second team in the Western Conference to get there. No one wants to talk about it — or, certainly, admit that they’re thinking about it. But, likely, with reaching 100 points, comes a playoff spot which has been the team’s goal all season.
POINTS LEADERS
The Calgary Flames have a golden opportunity to clinch a playoff spot by making hay at home this week.
The Pacific Division-leading Flames (44-19-9, 97 points) will kick off a three-game homestand on Tuesday against the expansion Seattle Kraken (23-43-6, 52 points) in the second half of a home-and home set. Calgary claimed a 4-1 victory in Seattle on Saturday.
That victory capped a perfect four-game road trip for the Flames, which included a three-game sweep through California, an important turnaround after they dropped three straight home clashes just before hitting the road.
"We weren't really happy with where we were, the last week at home we lost a couple games and didn't play our best," said defenceman Noah Hanifin, who collected a career-best four assists in the Seattle victory. "Getting out of Calgary and going on the road, getting some fresh looks, I thought it was good for our team."
The Kraken, who are 30th in the 32-team league entering Monday, are looking to the future and expected to unveil a big part of it on this trip.
Matty Beniers, the second overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft -- and first ever player drafted by the franchise -- signed with the team Sunday at the conclusion of his sophomore season at the University of Michigan.
The 19-year-old forward finished the NCAA season with 20 goals and 43 points in 37 games. He was the youngest player for the U.S. at the 2022 Winter Olympics, where he collected one goal and one assist in four games.
While the team was coy about whether Beniers will make his NHL debut in Calgary, his parents are expected to be on hand, and he skated at centre on a line with Jordan Eberle and Ryan Donato in Monday's practice.
Last edited by Cheese; 04-12-2022 at 11:19 AM.
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I notice above Cheese's injury source says out indefinitely. You don't usually see that with illness.
Mono?
Even weirder, he declared himself ready to go (as did Muller) last weekend. Sure seems like a hidden injury but a long term illness (such as mono) could well be it.
Kylington also declared himself ready so we'll what happens there.
Even weirder, he declared himself ready to go (as did Muller) last weekend. Sure seems like a hidden injury but a long term illness (such as mono) could well be it.
Kylington also declared himself ready so we'll what happens there.
Wasn't he reported on the ice a few days ago? Surely that would not be if he had mono as it is so transmissible.
SEATTLE KRAKEN AT CALGARY FLAMES 7:00pm TV: SNW, SN360 - RADIO SN960
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