Simply over a month since combining on a notable commerce, the Calgary Flames and host Philadelphia Flyers sq. off Tuesday.
Philadelphia is 4-0-1 in its final 5 video games because the staff has begun to combine Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier into its lineup. They got here to the Flyers, together with a pair of draft picks, in trade for Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee on Jan. 30.
Calgary is 3-5-2 for the reason that deal and has but to attain greater than three objectives in any of these 10 video games. The Flames have been significantly quiet offensively throughout their present 0-2-1 stretch, scoring only one time within the final three outings.
“You undergo these stretches in the course of the season while you get into ruts,” Calgary coach Ryan Huska stated after Sunday’s 2-1 extra time loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. “We’re in a single offensively proper now. However it’s going to flip so long as the work and the compete continues to be there, and I noticed that proper till the top (Sunday).”
Nazem Kadri scored the one purpose for the Flames, who’re 1-2-1 on their present six-game highway journey, which ends with stops in Philadelphia and Dallas.
“We fought proper to the top,” Kadri stated. “… We would prefer to get two factors, but it surely seems like we must always have had two.”
Philadelphia got here away with two factors in its final recreation — a powerful 2-1 shootout win in Winnipeg through which Ivan Fedotov made 29 saves earlier than stopping all three Jets makes an attempt within the shootout.
Matvei Michkov’s nifty shootout tally proved to be the decisive purpose for the Flyers, whereas Jamie Drysdale additionally scored a purpose in regulation.
“(Fedotov) was excellent taking part in towards certainly one of, or the very best, goalie within the league, in all probability, in (Connor Hellebuyck),” Philadelphia coach John Tortorella stated. “I believed everyone contributed.”
The Flyers now return house for a seven-game homestand, together with difficult contests towards Winnipeg, Tampa Bay and Carolina.
First up, although, is the matchup with Frost and Farabee, who haven’t loved a lot success individually — or as a staff, with the Flames — since coming over within the four-player commerce.
“Within the second, you are clearly unhappy to depart your teammates that you have been with … however on the similar time, I believe each of us in all probability wanted a contemporary begin anyway,” Frost stated shortly after the commerce. “We’re within the hunt. Hopefully, we are able to are available and provides the staff a lift.”
To his level, that plan hasn’t come to fruition. Frost has two objectives and an help and is a minus-4 in 10 video games with Calgary, whereas Farabee is a minus-3 and has registered only one purpose with no assists.
In the meantime, Kuzmenko has a purpose, two assists and a minus-4 in 5 video games with Philadelphia, whereas Pelletier has one help in his 4 contests with the Flyers.
Kuzmenko, particularly, is an attention-grabbing piece for Philadelphia. They want his offense — each his scoring and his playmaking — however additionally they would possibly deal him once more earlier than the commerce deadline if a possibility presents itself.
“I will act accordingly as we undergo this, and the group will act accordingly as we watch this,” Tortorella stated initially, concerning Kuzmenko’s stint in orange and black. “It’s kind of of an audition of, what are you, are you able to assist us, (and) do you wish to assist us? … And, we’ll decide from there.”
–Discipline Stage Media
