Tag: Calgary Flames

Weekend NHL rankings: Which playoff bubble team is under the most pressure?

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We’re exactly four weeks away from the playoffs, and as always at this time of year there are four groups of teams: Those that have had a spot locked up for weeks or months, those that have been out of the race forever, those that are right on the bubble, and those that still think they’re in the race but probably aren’t. That last group, sadly, includes a few of this year’s teams that have been the most fun to watch. That includes our beloved Sabres, as well as the…

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The Flames are given another painful reminder that they lack game-breakers

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Calgary – The Calgary Flames had control of the ball in overtime in a game they needed to play. They had a showdown in offensive zone with seconds left against three attackers. Rasmus Anderson has had a good game up until that point. Tyler Toffoli has been on fire lately. It doesn’t hurt to have Mikael Backlund on the ice. It’s all set up for the Flames to get one last set of chances and possibly win the two points over the Dallas Stars. The stars faced Joe Pavelski, Rob…

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Why do the Flames struggle against teams outside the playoffs?

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Calgary – The Flames’ list of shortcomings this season will disappoint anyone, whether you’re a player, coach, CEO, or fan. After Friday night’s loss against the basement-dwelling Anaheim Ducks, you could argue those kinds of losses would rank near the top of that list. “It’s unacceptable. It’s happened a few times this year,” defender McKenzie Wiggar said after losing 3-1 at the Scotiabank Saddledome. “It doesn’t matter who our opponent is. We need to play better than the opposition every night and focus on ourselves. We were talking about. I…

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Can the flame suddenly run? Here’s what should happen

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It took nearly three quarters of the season, but Jacob Markstrom finally recorded a shutout on 42 winning saves against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night. To date, the win is the Flames’ most important win of the year. Markstrom stole a game at a time when the Flames needed it most. It didn’t look like it was going to get the win when the Wild scored in overtime, but an offside review nullified it and eventually led to a 1-0 shootout victory and back-to-back wins for the Flames for…

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“It Hurts”: It gets harder and harder to believe in this Flames team before the deadline

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DENVER – On a Saturday morning, after a morning skate at the Flames, Coach Daryl Sutter told everyone he’d be Team Against the World from now on. “We came out of a really good game,” said Suter. “I encourage the flames, not everyone standing here.” Sutter then tried to remember how many games were left in the Flames season before saying, with the usual dry draw, that if they won every game they had left, they would definitely win their league. But he made sure to end the quote with…

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NHL playoff tiers and buyer/seller 3.0: Where all 32 teams stand two weeks ahead of the trade deadline

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The NHL trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and it’s time for teams to make the call: buy or sell? For some, the moves are already flying or the decision is a formality and the trades a matter of time. For others, every win, loss and injury on the way to March 3 will be a factor. Which teams fall in which category? To survey the field, The Athletic asked the writers who know each of the NHL’s 32 teams best two questions: 1) How confident are you in the…

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Rasmus Anderson of the Flames returns against the Red Wings after being hit by a car last week

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Flames defenseman Rasmus Anderson will return to Calgary’s lineup on Thursday against the Red Wings after a week-long layoff after he was hit by a car in Detroit last week. Here’s what you need to know: Anderson was hit by a car on Feb. 8 at around 6 p.m. ET in Detroit while he was riding a motorcycle on his way to dinner. He was listed the day after the accident and the team said he was “just fine”. After being taken to a local hospital and undergoing tests, he…

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Flames Dan Vladar might give more impressions, but Jacob Markstrom is still their guy

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Few people shine a spotlight when it comes to the Flames’ goaltending position. Three men come to mind. There’s Jakob Markstrom and Dan Vladar, who have been tasked with looking after Goal to mixed results this season. Then there’s Daryl Sutter, whose job as head coach now has him trying to figure out which of two internet pros has the hotter hands. “I think our goal this year has been streaky,” Suter said after practice on Wednesday, before naming various points at which Markström or Vladar looked good or bad…

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NHL trade board 2022-23: What the Tarasenko trade means for Meier, Kane and other top deadline targets

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The NHL trade market is slowly swinging into a higher gear, with the Rangers making their statement Thursday, acquiring right winger Vladimir Tarasenko in a deal with the Blues. All season, the Rangers have been short a right winger to play in their top six — and the two primary candidates were always going to be Tarasenko and the Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane. Both players have a history with Artemi Panarin, who is arguably the Rangers’ most dynamic forward and one player who could use some help at five-on-five. The case…

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Why Flames losses to teams like the Red Wings complicate trade deadlines’ plans

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Flames GM Brad Treliving knows he’ll have some salary cap space by March 3, NHL trade deadline day, if he wants to be added to the roster. The team could potentially benefit from having another striker in the top nine and more depth in defence. But just because Treliving can do it doesn’t mean he has to. The Flames’ distance from first place in the Pacific Division began to widen, even as the Golden Knights got injured bug injury. With the benefit of one more game played, they remained tied…

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