SILVER STICK FOR STAJAN
After playing in his 1,000th career NHL regular-season game last Wednesday, Matt Stajan was honoured by the Flames on Thursday. Joined on the ice by his parents, Mike and Nada, his wife, Katie, and his two-year-old son, Elliot, Matt was recognized for his contributions on and off the ice in a special pre-game ceremony.
Following a video tribute, Stajan was given a number of gifts, including a Tiffany crystal from the NHL and a $25,000 cheque to the Emerson Stajan Foundation from the Flames Foundation. The highlight of the night was when Matt was presented with a silver stick by Flames co-owner Allan Markin and Elliot was given a silver mini-stick by team mascot Harvey the Hound.
It was a first-class ceremony honouring a first-class person.
WAY TOO LITTLE, WAY TOO LATE
After being shut out in three of their previous five games, including the final two-plus periods of last Saturday’s 5-1 setback versus the Sharks and Monday’s 3-0 loss to the Kings, the Flames snapped a 167-minute and 21-second goalless streak when Chris Stewart scored with 22 seconds left in the third period — his first goal since being claimed on waivers by the team on Feb. 26.
That’s the good news. The bad news? The Blue Jackets had a 5-0 lead at the time and went on to win by a final score of 5-1. The win was the Blue Jackets’ 12th in 13 games.
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SHORE-ING UP THE BOTTOM SIX
Flames general manager Brad Treliving was fairly quiet at the NHL’s trade deadline, only making one move, sending a seventh-round pick to the Senators for forward Nick Shore.
After spending the majority of his first five professional seasons with the Kings organization, Shore was dealt, along with Marian Gaborik, to the Senators for Dion Phaneuf and Nate Thompson on Feb. 13. After playing six games for Ottawa, Shore was sent to Calgary on Feb. 26. Treliving told me that he thought Shore had more potential offensively than he’d shown in his time with the Kings and Senators, when he recorded 14 goals and 50 points in 227 games.
While Shore is pointless in five games with the Flames, I can certainly see where the GM was coming from. The right-handed centre has been really solid defensively and has created some chances offensively. With Stajan in the final year of his contract, the Flames will likely have a new fourth-line centre when next season starts. With what I’ve seen from Shore so far, I’d be surprised if the Flames didn’t sign the restricted free agent and give him every opportunity to win a job as a bottom-six forward next season.
FIFTH AND FINAL ROUND
With three straight wins to start the five-game season series, the Oilers have already clinched the 2017-18 Battle of Alberta, but after snapping a seven-game losing streak versus their provincial rival with a 1-0 shutout win on March 13, the Flames will try to win their second consecutive contest versus the Oilers on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday.
As always, shutting down — or at least slowing down — Connor McDavid will be the biggest key for the Flames. Even though they kept McDavid off the scoresheet and shut out the Oilers in their last meeting, No. 97 was dangerous from start to finish and is as hot as any player in the NHL going into Saturday’s game, when he’ll try to extend his lead in the Art Ross Trophy race.
On the other side, the Oilers will probably have to plan around Johnny Gaudreau, who, after missing two games to be with his father, Guy, who suffered a ‘cardiac event’ last week, will likely be back in the lineup on Saturday.
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I DON’T PITY THE FOO
After finishing only one point shy of the NCAA’s scoring lead last season, when he recorded 26 goals and 62 points in 38 games with the Union College Dutchmen, undrafted free agent Spencer Foo was a hot commodity. After being courted by a number of NHL teams, including Calgary and Edmonton, Foo decided to sign a two-year, entry-level contract with the Flames.
Foo got off to a fairly slow start in his first professional season, posting one goal in his first 19 games. Since then, the 23-year-old right winger has scored 19 times in 40 games. Hopefully, Foo — who will probably make his NHL debut versus the Oilers on Saturday — will be given an opportunity to play in a top-six role in the Flames’ final four games, and will look like a player who is ready to compete for a spot next season.
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