CALGARY – The last time David Rittich and Jon Gillies were the Calgary Flames’ two goalies things went sideways.
Fast.
However, the fact the Flames left Calgary Friday for a three-game roadie with the two young goalies is no longer a major concern like it was last February.
After all, Mike Smith is also on the trip, with assurances he’ll be back in the lineup before their trip winds up Tuesday in Dallas.
Yet, that didn’t stop the club from summoning Gillies from Stockton while Smith is considered "day-to-day."
"I expect Smitty to play on this trip for sure – I’d be shocked if he didn’t," said coach Bill Peters, thrilled to announce the ailment that forced Smith to leave Wednesday’s game after two periods isn’t serious.
"It’s nothing we think will keep him out long term. He’s got a ‘general soreness’ we’ll say. It’s not a concussion, so you can rule that out."
Asked if it was an upper or lower body injury, Peters smiled.
"Either one is good," he chuckled.
[relatedlinks]
Indeed, the mood was light once again on Friday, not just because the team is on a 15-5-1 heater, but because Mikael Backlund was back at practice for the first time since he was rocked by Matt Dumba in the final minute on Dec. 6.
The veteran centre spent the week going through concussion protocol but was anxious to get back out with his teammates for the first time and did so without a non-contact jersey.
"That was my call, I wanted to be 100 per cent in practice – I know guys aren’t going to kill me out there," said Backlund, who will join the Flames on the trip and would only say he expected to be back "soon."
"It just helps me get back there quicker."
It was also his first chance to comment on the hit his teammates felt was high as Backlund started leaving the zone in the final minute of a two-goal game.
"I just saw it once and that’s all I needed to see, and I don’t want to think about it more," said Backlund, the team’s best two-way forward.
"I had my head down but there’s 40 seconds left and I don’t know if anyone has to do that. I think it’s an unnecessary play."
With the Flames sitting one point back of the Predators for top spot in the West, the goal is most certainly to keep the pedal to the floor – a message Peters tried hammering home Friday.
During a spirited skate he stopped a drill at one point to ensure the lads were intensely focused on the details necessary to maintain their standing.
"You’ve got work, got to skate – let’s play fast and hard and get back to being who we are, not be so inconsistent," he said.
"The fat guy is coming down the chimney soon here and some teams are going to check out around the league – let’s not be one of them."
[snippet id=4265503]
Asked to characterize his season in Stockton where he’s posted 5-8-1 record with a 3.96 goals-against average and a .861 save percentage, Gillies was philosophical.
"It has been up and down," said the 24-year-old, who got 11 of his 12 games of NHL experience here last year during Smith’s injury, going 3-5-1 with a 2.88 GAA.
"I’ve always found with stats there are good stats and bad stats and you’re usually somewhere in the middle.
"I played well at the beginning but wasn’t getting the results. Then I got hurt, played poorly for a week or so but bounced back and had a good weekend last weekend and I’m building in the right direction."
Suffice it to say, it would take an injury to Rittich for Gillies to make an appearance this weekend. After all, Rittich has been the Flames’ best goalie this year and has no fear his play will drop off no matter how long Smith is out.
"It was the first year in the NHL for me, so it was a little bit kind of weird," said the 26-year-old Czech about his struggles last year when made the starter for February.
"Because, you know, I have to learn the league and learn what the players do. I think I did it, and I feel way different than last year. I think it’s going to be good. It’s going to be same thing for me as when Smitty was healthy."
The Flames play afternoon games Saturday (Minnesota) and Sunday (St. Louis) before a Tuesday night affair in Dallas.
