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Flames, Kings game Postponed – Zary Injured – Who Joins the Top Six? |
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Tonight's Flames/Kings game will be postponed due to wildfires in the LA area. This is unfortunate news. Here's hoping that residents and visitors alike are staying safe down there.
With that said, strictly from a professional hockey perspective, barring extreme re-scheduling, the Flames have one less back-to-back to play. The team has a much better chance at winning the season series against the Kings if they separate what was supposed to be a home-and-home into two games distanced further apart.
The Flames took game one of their three games against the Kings on Monday, November 11 when they held off a late push to capture a 3-1 victory at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The win served as arguably their most complete game of the season.
A few more reasons that tonight looked like a schedule loss?
LA has had three full days off between games, they've won four straight, Head Coach Jim Hiller's crew has allowed only eight goals in those four games, and the Flames are struggling with offence, the Flames are on a back-to-back, Calgary just lost their most offensively creative center–
Right, about that.
For the squeamish or those with a history of knee injuries, feel free to skip this video. Sophmore center Connor Zary collided knees with Anaheim Ducks defenceman Drew Helleson last night.
A fracture has been ruled out, but the team is waiting on swelling to reduce before they can confirm what is going on in his left leg.
Zary, 23, has battled knee issues in the past.
So, where do the Flames go from here? They play next on Saturday in what was supposed to be the tail end of a home-and-home vs the Kings.
What seems to be the most common movement is for General Manager Craig Conroy to call up 22 year old Rory Kerins for his NHL debut.
The Hot Hand
It's hard to make a case that the Caledon, Ontario product doesn't deserve it. He leads the AHL in goals with 21 and he's second in points with 34 in 34 appearances. His team is in first place in the AHL with a 23-10-1 record and 47 points in the standings.
Further to this; it's hard to imagine that the organization wouldn't keep it simple. The Flames are running the sixth-worst offence in the league at 2.63 goals per game and if they can't get that number up; their current .563 points percentage is unsustainable.
Not to mention that .563 doesn't get you into the playoffs. The Flames need to improve.
There is a feel-good narrative there. Zary will have his job back when he's back on his feet. A depth player may get squeezed out of a spot, but this is pro sports. The team isn't there yet after 40 games.
Sam Morton would be a fine addition, but with just 18 points in 34 games, he likely wouldn't move the needle offensively enough to make in impact.
What do you think? Is Kerins the answer? What do you think Craig Conroy will do with this emerging vacancy in the top six?
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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