Daily Scan: Rescheduled games mean busy finish for Flames, rivals are pissy

The Calgary Flames schedule has been updated … and it’s a grind. As the Flames enjoyed a day off after a big win, the NHL released the new dates for about 100 postponed games and the Flames are going to be busy. Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers are pissy, with Leon Draisaitl getting into it with reporter Jim Matheson. Lots of NHL news and notes to digest but let’s start with the Calgary Flames home-heavy finish.

Here are the added dates …

Wednesday, February 9, 2022 (8:00pm MT) – Flames vs. Golden Knights

Thursday, February 10, 2022 (7:00pm MT) – Flames vs. Maple Leafs

Saturday, February 12, 2022 (8:00pm MT) – Flames vs. Islanders

Tuesday, February 15, 2022 (7:00pm MT) – Flames vs. Blue Jackets

Wednesday, February 16, 2022 (7:30pm MT) – Flames vs. Ducks

Saturday, February 19, 2022 (8:00pm MT) – Flames vs. Kraken

Monday, February 21, 2022 (2:00pm MT) – Flames vs. Jets

Monday, March 7, 2022 (7:30pm MT) – Flames vs. Oilers

Monday, April 18, 2022 (7:00pm MT) – Flames @ Blackhawks

Tuesday, April 19, 2022 (7:00pm MT) – Flames @ Predators

Fitting them in should give the Calgary Flames an opportunity to finish strong with 26 home games out of 40 games after the all-star break. All five road games after all-star in February and March are one-offs with relatively short flights.

The downside may be the number of back-to-back games. With 10 of them to come over the remainder of the schedule, they’ll lean heavily on backup goaltender Dan Vladar. He’s been great so far but keep in mind he’s in his first year in this role and the pressure will mount as the season progresses.

More than half of those involve travel, too.

It’s going to be a wild finish.

Only in Alberta …

Also of note: Matthew Tkachuk, who scored a beauty of a goal for the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night, has missed out on the 2022 NHL All-Star Game. Troy Terry was named the ‘Last Men In’ candidate for the Pacific Divison. The now complete list of NHL All-Stars for the 2022 All-Star weekend in Las Vegas can be found here.

Up north, the Edmonton Oilers, who are struggling in the Pacific Division (remember when the Golden Knights trailed them in the standings) have let their frustration get to them in two vastly different ways. Leading scorer Leon Draisaitl got into it with reporter Jim Matheson.

Brendan Perlini had a different answer on why the Oilers are struggling.

i love brendan perlini pic.twitter.com/OCaVsXZRfd

— s🏒 (@oilygifs) January 17, 2022

NHL news, trade rumours, and National Hockey Now

TSN: Cole Perfetti scored his first career NHL goal Tuesday night and the rookie is quickly becoming a top-six winger for the Winnipeg Jets.

ICYMI: The Montreal Canadiens have named Kent Hughes as the new general manager of the franchise.

Boston: Willie O’Ree’s no. 22 is finally up in the rafters of TD Garden in Boston where it belongs.

Vegas: The Golden Knights are just one game off of the halfway point on the 2021-22 NHL season. With that in mind Vegas Hockey Now looks at the biggest positive and negative surprises so far.

Philadelphia: A bunch of news out of Philadelphia today. First and foremost the Flyers have now lost nine-straight games after a nine-round shootout loss against the New York Islanders. Zdeno Chara also decked Zack MacEwen. Sam Carchidi asks where the Flyers go from here?

On the injury front center, Kevin Hayes will miss 3-4 weeks. Former Flyers Jake Voracek will not play against his former team Thursday night.

Also, Flyers captain Claude Giroux and the Flyers have had no talks with management regarding him waiving his no-movement clause.

Carolina: The Hurricanes are trolling again. Vincent Trocheck was asked if he felt like his game was similar to Brad Marchand’s. Marchand responded on Instagram stating that comparing him and Trocheck was like “comparing a Prius to a Lamborghini. The Hurricanes steamrolled the Bruins Tuesday night 7-1 and posted this too.

Never seen a Prius total a Lambo before pic.twitter.com/NJ2uQY0raq

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 19, 2022

Ottawa: Matt Murray will miss time with the Senators with a non-COVID-related illness, potentially jeopardizing his return to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.