Which Goalie Gets Flames Start After Markstrom Got Hook?

Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom got the hook, and head coach Darryl Sutter didn't let him off it post-game, either. 

The bench boss was asked whether the move was a motivational tactic intended to send a message to a sleepy team. 

"No, their goaltender was outplaying ours at that time." Sutter said after the 4-3 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. "It was evident on the scoreboard and shot clock.” 

I found the comment interesting considering the nature of the goals against. The quality of those scoring chances was higher than the majority of the ones produced by the Flames on the night. 

Lukas Reichel outmuscled the much larger Nikita Zadorov to pot a loose puck from a foot out of the crease for his first NHL goal after the rest of the team ran around ineffectively trying to stop the Hawks puck movement. Markstrom stumbled in the process, which looks bad on him, but the goal was most definitely a high-danger opportunity. 

So were the other two that Markstrom allowed. An un-covered Colin Blackwell scored his first of the year and first as a member of the Blackhawks on a rebound that he fired home from the doorstep. The last one he let in before being yanked was a two-on-one rush created when both Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin got caught inside the opposite blueline. Markstrom froze up for the shot and didn't make a play across the crease, but may not have been able to prevent the goal either way. 

Basically, Markstrom could have been better, but it probably would not have made a difference in the result based on what was happening — or not happening — in front of him.

We'll see what Sutter decides to do the rest of the roadie. 

Dan Vladar stopped every shot until Max Domi's overtime marker. The backup has been pretty good with more work this season, allowing Markstrom to get more rest and practice time along the way. Either could start one or both of the games in St. Louis with two straight on the docket against the Blues on Tuesday and Thursday. They visit Dallas on Saturday and Nashville on Monday before returning to Calgary.