Practice notes Nov 24. Neal plays tmrw, Valimaki minor LBI (game time decision), starter unconfirmed.

[heep223]

Per Derek Wills twitter.

Flames lines and pairings at practice:

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

Giordano-Brodie
Kylington-Hamonic
Hanifin-Andersson

Smith (in starter’s net)
Rittich

Valimaki not practicing, Neal odd man out

UPDATE:

@Fan960Wills

Despite looking like the odd man out at #Flames practice today, James Neal will play vs. #Coyotes tomorrow.

UPDATE:

@KdotAnderson
#Flames head coach Bill Peters said he hasn’t made a decision on the starting goaltender.

Valimaki missed today’s practice with a lower body injury.

And asked Peters about if they’ve considered sitting James Neal: “I haven’t. We think he’s trending in the right direction.”

UPDATE:

by RYAN DITTRICK @ryandittrick

Juuso Valimaki is nursing a minor lower-body injury and did not participate in Saturday's practice at Gila River Arena.

The rookie D man may not be able to play Sunday when the Flames close out a two-game road trip against the Arizona Coyotes.

If he's unable to play, Oliver Kylington - who was recalled, along with Ryan Lomberg, from the Stockton Heat on Friday - will make his 2018-19 debut.

FORWARDS

Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Elias Lindholm
Matthew Tkachuk - Mikael Backlund - Sam Bennett
Austin Czarnik - Derek Ryan - James Neal
Dillon Dube - Mark Jankowski - Garnet Hathaway

DEFENCE

Mark Giordano - TJ Brodie
Noah Hanifin - Travis Hamonic
Juuso Valimaki - Rasmus Andersson

Or…

Mark Giordano - TJ Brodie
Oliver Kylington - Travis Hamonic
Noah Hanifin - Rasmus Andersson

[Scroopy Noopers]

He took a big hit last night right?? (Valimaki)

I may have had a few too many edibles.

[Snuffleupagus]

Strange, I thought Neal had his best game of the year

[N-E-B]

Neal hasn’t been great but I really don’t like the way Peters has used him this season. Probably my only complaint about Peters so far.

Hopefully this gets him going. I hate seeing our fans crapping on him so early.

[CsInMyBlood]

Neal the scratch. Good. After that penalty last night he deserves to sit and think about it.

[heep223]

Neal's been bad, as has been well documented. But why not change up the PP2 (which sucks anyways), put Neal on his off wing hammering one timers to try and get his confidence going. Put him in a position that plays to his strengths.

[Erick Estrada]

Neal hasn't actually been bad. He's just not a line driver and he's being asked to do so with 3rd line talent. I have said it many times as long as he stays on that line it's going to be status quo as he's being misused. Not sure why you would sign a 30+ year old goal scorer to a big money deal only to saddle him with struggling 3rd line talent. Makes very little sense.

[AC]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Neal the scratch. Good. After that penalty last night he deserves to sit and think about it.

I disagree. Neal's penalty was a joke.


Bennett was blatantly tripped seconds before while carrying the puck.

Neal was upset with the ref and Miller dives as if he's been shot.

You can see Bennett yell at the ref "You better call the dive"

Neal's call in better quality: https://gfycat.com/MiserlyMajorFairyfly

[flames_fan_down_under]

Spot on as always AC. Impressive work.

[djsFlames]

Neal pretty much needs a high end playmaker stapled to him to get on a scoring run I think.

I say put Lindholm with Tkachuk (center?) and give him a go with the Monadreau.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by AC

I disagree. Neal's penalty was a joke.


Bennett was blatantly tripped seconds before while carrying the puck.

Neal was upset with the ref and Miller dives as if he's been shot.

You can see Bennett yell at the ref "You better call the dive"

Oh boy, those refs were junk. Vegas played them like the fiddle and they allowed it. Didn't notice how embellishing that was until this replay. That's why Neal had the reaction he did on the bench I guess. And that was after Fleury hit him in the face with his stick on the way over.

[MisterJoji]

Who’s in the starters net? Rittich played really well despite the loss but I can see Smith getting the start against his former team.

[AC]

@Fan960Wills
Despite looking like the odd man out at #Flames practice today, James Neal will play vs. #Coyotes tomorrow. #CGYvsARI

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by AC

@Fan960Wills
Despite looking like the odd man out at #Flames practice today, James Neal will play vs. #Coyotes tomorrow. #CGYvsARI

That's strange.

[Strange Brew]

There are only two line drivers on this team, Gaudreau and Tkachuk. If he plays with one of those guys then you are either bumping Bennett down (which seems to make everyone unhappy) or you switch Lindholm to center and bump Backlund down.

So one way to look at it - who is more important to have on the ice and be productive, Bennett or Neal?

I think we're seeing that Neal is just not all that versatile. Maybe that's a reason why teams constantly replace him.

[Moneyhands23]

Oh the Glory if Killington plays well!!!

[killer_carlson]

I'd have left our top 2 d pairings intact.

Klingon Anderson should be the 3rd pairing

[mile]

Originally Posted by AC

@Fan960Wills
Despite looking like the odd man out at #Flames practice today, James Neal will play vs. #Coyotes tomorrow. #CGYvsARI

Peters said after the game yesterday that he thought Neal played well. I'd be surprised if he was scratched.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

That's strange.

Wills seems to regularly get this stuff wrong

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I'd have left our top 2 d pairings intact.

Klingon Anderson should be the 3rd pairing

Kaplaaaa!