The good news for the Calgary Flames is their top line was dominant once again on Monday.
The bad news is that two-thirds of the lads they hoped would start the season on the top trio appear to be nicked up already.
In the midst of another solid showing that included his second pre-season goal, Johnny Gaudreau left the Flames’ 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers near the end of the second period and did not return. The team later reported it was for “precautionary reasons.”
Blake Coleman, who was originally slated to start the season on the top unit with Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm, missed his third straight game after being a late scratch at home against Vancouver on Friday. The official word on Coleman is that coach Darryl Sutter simply wants him rested, given he’s played 48 playoff games the last two seasons.
Coleman skated with the team Monday morning and was one of those skating in a small group Tuesday. He may very well be being held out of the games to simply limit his mileage.
We’ll see if either are ready to play Wednesday in Winnipeg, the team’s second-last exhibition tilt. The club is downplaying concerns on either player's health and is likely simply playing it safe on both fronts.
“He’s fine,” said coach Darryl Sutter when asked about Gaudreau after Wednesday’s game.
The team didn't skate Tuesday in Winnipeg.
In Coleman’s absence, Sutter reverted to the top trio that ended last season on a major heater: Tkachuk, Lindholm and Gaudreau.
Tkachuk had another big night, scoring once and adding two helpers, vaulting him into a tie atop the pre-season scoring leaders with six points in three outings.
Sean Monahan and Noah Hanifin made their pre-season debuts, as the club looked to ease them back into action following off-season hip and shoulder surgeries, respectively. Both said they had no setbacks throughout rehab and have been ready to play since the start of camp.
Hanifin seemed to pick up where he left off last year, using his speed and smarts to make an excellent stop on Zack Kassian in the first period of a game the Flames opened with a 3-0 lead.
BLUE LINE BATTLE RAGES ON
Of all the tests Oliver Kylington has passed throughout his breakthrough training camp, Monday night’s was the stiffest.
No longer was he sheltered by being paired with defensive guru Christopher Tanev, this time he lined up alongside Erik Gudbranson, who will be his most likely partner if the slick-skating Swede is going to make the opening night roster.
Kylington played the bulk of the lone Calgary power play, was a prominent penalty killer and rang one off the iron with nine minutes left in a game the Flames trailed by one.
When the Flames pulled Jacob Markstrom for the extra attacker, Kylington was on for the final push for a goal.
At this point, it’s clear he’s almost a cinch to start the season with the big club. After the camp he’s had, there’s little chance the team would risk exposing him on waivers for the purpose of sending him to Stockton.
Juuso Valimaki, who watched from the press box Monday, is also safe, as the team would never expose the first-rounder on waivers.
Despite a good camp, Connor Mackey is likely destined for the American Hockey League, even though he’s on a one-way deal. The reason: he’s exempt from waivers, so the team doesn’t risk losing him.
The Flames might choose to start the season with eight defencemen on the roster, or might contemplate sending Gudbranson down, as it’s a safe bet no team would claim the man making $1.95 million.
The roster choices Sutter will make for the final two pre-season games could be very telling, as far as defencemen go.
NETMINDING OUTLOOK
Markstrom played his first full game of the pre-season in Edmonton, surrendering four goals on 35 shots, including eight from Connor McDavid.
While lamenting the loss, he said afterward he felt comfortable.
The Flames have done a good job at camp getting Dan Vladar plenty of minutes to prove he’s the backup they signed him to be. His 2.28 GAA and .914 save percentage should give the brass increased confidence the man with just five NHL starts under his belt won’t be in over his head as the team’s full-time understudy to Markstrom.
THE LATEST LINES
Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk
Mangiapane-Monahan-Duehr
Dube-Backlund-Ritchie
Lucic-Richardson-Lewis
Hanifin-Andersson
Zadorov-Tanev
Kylington-Gudbranson
