Montreal Canadiens at Calgary Flames [Game 19]

The Calgary Flames are back at home after a California road trip that saw them go one and two. It represented a squandered chance to gain some ground in the Pacific, particularly with the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings struggling in recent months. Alas, they only picked up the victory against the Kings while losing to the Ducks and the San Jose Sharks.

Coincidentally those two losses were the Mike Smith games while Rittich picked up his first career shutout in Los Angeles in a game where the Flames needed it – they only scored one goal. It only makes sense that Rittich would get the start tonight. Anyway, Smith is starting.

The line blender is in action tonight. Sam Bennett is going to start at right wing with Matthew Tkachuk and Mikael Backlund, Austin Czarnik will play on line three with Mark Jankowski and James Neal, and Michael Frolik is on line four with Derek Ryan and Garnet Hathaway. Dillon Dube will be a healthy scratch.

Michael Stone’s one game sample size is over as Rasmus Andersson comes back in. Andersson will be on the right side of Juuso Valimaki. Dalton Prout will be the other healthy scratch.

Game time is at 7:00 P.M. M.S.T.

by Les Mavus