Nov 27 Practice Notes. Valimaki now week to week. No decision on starter vs Dallas.

[sureLoss]

Practice is scheduled to begin at 11AM, but Frolik is skating before the main group.

Jermaine Franklin posted some video:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqsOCQTh...d=r0clhawc5ek5

Looks like he is close to returning.

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
Michael Frolik and Juuso Valimaki absent again at practice this morning. Both guys are day-to-day with lower body injuries. #Flames

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames today at practice:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Backlund-Bennett
Czarnik-Ryan-Neal
Dube-Jankowski-Hathaway

Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Hamonic
Kylington-Andersson

[sureLoss]

Before anyone panics, Peters has done this before where Smith practiced in the starter's net and Rittich still started the next game.

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
For what it’s worth, Mike Smith is in starter’s net at #Flames practice.

[Gaskal]

As someone who wanted us to take Oliver at #15 before we traded it for Dougie, I'm more excited to watch Kylington live for the first time than I am to watch Valimaki live for the first time. No slight to Juuso, of course. I just want to see him activate off the defence and turn on the jets.

[Toonage]

I assume Smith gets the starters net just to get more shots / time in, regardless if he's actually starting or not.

[Savvy27]

I'm really not sure what the Flames have with Czarnik. He obviously has some talent but other than some brief chemistry with Tkachuk at the start of the season he hasn't seemed to fit very well in the line up.

To his credit, I think he has been able to get a fair number of scoring chances. Maybe it is just a situation where he needs one to go in and his confidence will be restored, kind of like Derek Ryan. However, when Frolik does return, I'd like to see him back with Ryan and Neal as they were looking like a pretty decent line before Frolik went down.

[TheIronMaiden]

Czarnik has been fairly pedestrian so far. It would be nice for him and Neal to find some chemistry.

[Rollin22x]

I've been impressed with Valimaki. He makes some mistakes but he also makes some very calm heads up plays that rookies don't even think about.

[dustygoon]

If Smith messes the bed this time, then that has to be a nail in his "starter" coffin.

[Flash Walken]

Czarnik is looking more like a Nigel Dawes type.

He just doesn't have the bear down necessary to keep himself in the lineup.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Before anyone panics, Peters has done this before where Smith practiced in the starter's net and Rittich still started the next game.

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
For what it’s worth, Mike Smith is in starter’s net at #Flames practice.

I feel an urgent impulse to overthrow society and impose my will upon the masses.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Before anyone panics, Peters has done this before where Smith practiced in the starter's net and Rittich still started the next game.

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
For what it’s worth, Mike Smith is in starter’s net at #Flames practice.

I am not panicking but at the same time I am. There is no reason at all not to go back to Rittich and we can't afford to give up any points from bad goaltending. I know Smith was good last game but that was against the Coyotes, not a high octane offence like Dallas. Hopefully I am stressing about nothing.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

If Smith messes the bed this time, then that has to be a nail in his "starter" coffin.

That nail has already been driven home. Rittich clearly should be the starter at this point.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I am not panicking but at the same time I am. There is no reason at all not to go back to Rittich and we can't afford to give up any points from bad goaltending. I know Smith was good last game but that was against the Coyotes, not a high octane offence like Dallas. Hopefully I am stressing about nothing.

It is hard to say. The Flames are coming up on a short easy stretch before 4 really difficult games. I don't mind seeing Smith get a couple starts before Rittich has to see 4 or 5 in a row.

Dallas
Los Angeles
Chicago
Columbus
Minnesota
Nashville
Edmonton

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

It is hard to say. The Flames are coming up on a short easy stretch before 4 really difficult games. I don't mind seeing Smith get a couple starts before Rittich has to see 4 or 5 in a row.

Dallas
Los Angeles
Chicago
Columbus
Minnesota
Nashville
Edmonton

Then start him against the Kings or even the Hawks, the Stars will light him up like a Christmas tree.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

If Smith messes the bed this time, then that has to be a nail in his "starter" coffin.

No more nails. He made a big statement in that Montreal game about whether he deserves any more of those. For a second I thought I was watching the ghost of Jonas Hiller.

[Toonage]

Pinder made a good (and somewhat obvious) point on the radio yesterday afternoon.

Don't start Smith at home. Not yet. He lets in one bad goal and the crowd will turn on him. Start him on the road for now.

[sureLoss]

News Update

Valimaki is now week to week. No decision on goalie. No update on Stone

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
now
No goaltending decision for tomorrow.

Valimaki now week-to-week with a lower body injury.

Frolik close to returning. Skated today, still day-to-day with a lower body injury.

No update on Michael Stone’s timeline. #Flames

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Czarnik is looking more like a Nigel Dawes type.

He just doesn't have the bear down necessary to keep himself in the lineup.

Bear down necessities
Hockey bear down necessities
You have to try and ignore the fatigue
I mean, bear down necessities
The ancient hockey recipes
The only way you’ll stay up in this league