The Calgary Flames will not have AHL scoring leader Matthew Phillips in the lineup for their game Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The team opted instead to have Friday morning’s call-up Radim Zohorna dress for its first reunion with Johnny Gaudreau.
Phillips was recalled from the Calgary Wranglers on Thursday. He left the AHL with 15 goals and 30 points in 20 games — the highest point total in the league.
Zohorna, meanwhile, was called up from the Wranglers on Friday once forward Kevin Rooney had cleared waivers.
The 26-year-old has scored 16 points in 20 AHL games this season and has 25 career NHL games under his belt with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Phillips has been a hot-button topic among Flames fans this season as the 13-10-3 squad has struggled to live up to the lofty expectations of a busy off-season, especially on offence.
The diminutive forward later outlined to media members that he hadn’t expected to slot into Calgary’s lineup for their tilt against the Blue Jackets, and would instead be used in a top-6 role moving forward when called upon.
