PLAYOFF CHASE CONTINUES
In the playoffs, out of the playoffs, in again — that’s the roller-coaster the Calgary Flames are riding. The team’s march to the NHL’s post-season tourney continues Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a rare matinee at the Saddledome. The homes
JOHNNY ON THE SPOT
Flames freshman LW Johnny Gaudreau is showing no sign of slowing down. Thursday, by authoring his fourth three-point night, the wee winger took control of the NHL’s rookie scoring race … His total of 56 points is the most for a Calgary rookie since LW Sergei Makarov (86 points, 1989-90) — and the sixthbest in Flames’ history … The club record is owned by C Joe Nieuwendyk (92 points, 198788) … Gaudreau also reached the 20-goal plateau against the visiting Flyers … Saturday the 21-year-old faces the Columbus Blue Jackets — for the first time. Because the last time the teams met, Gaudreau had been a healthy scratch (after opening the season with five pointless outings).
WINTER TO REMEMBER
Plenty of Flames are enjoying career years … Even D Mark Giordano, who, in the same period he suffered a season-ending injury against the New Jersey Devils, set up the game-winning goal to give him 48 points — a career high … LW Jiri Hudler, already riding a personal-best season of 62 points, collected his 37th assist Thursday, equalling his career best … D Dennis Wideman, with his 13th goal, matched his NHL high (2007-08 and 200809 in Boston) … With 28 tallies, sophomore C Sean Monahan, meanwhile, is barrelling towards the 30-goal plateau … Others establishing personal-best point totals include D Kris Russell (30), D T.J. Brodie (39) and LW Lance Bouma (28).
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS
Thursday, Columbus drubbed home-ice Vancouver by a count of 6-2 … “It says a lot about our group,” said coach Todd Richards. “Down 2-0, the way the game was going, having played (the night before in Edmonton) and got in late, it could have been one of those games.” … Rookie C Marko Dano is earning rave reviews, with seven points (and a plus-six rating) in his last five outings. “He’s playing big, playing strong, physical in the corners and physical in the battles,” Richards said of the Slovak — a first-round pick in 2013, 27th overall, one slot ahead of LW Morgan Klimchuk. “Once he creates a little separation, you saw some different things. There’s a lot of skill and ability in him.”
WHEN LAST THEY MET
On Oct. 17, the Flames fell 3-2 to the home-ice Blue Jackets. Down by three, the guests rallied with a couple of goals, including C Josh Jooris’s first marker (in his first game) … Last time in Calgary? That night, Nov. 20, 2013, the Blue Jackets prevailed 2-1, with D Nikita Nikitin providing the golden goal. RW David Jones collected eight hits … The Flames are 23-21-6 overall against the Blue Jackets … However, Columbus has won its last four drop-ins — twice in shootouts, once in overtime … The Flames’ record against Eastern Conference squads is 14-14-3 … D Kris Russell played 288 games for Columbus, who drafted him 67th overall in 2005.
C- NOTES
RW Emile Poirier was assigned to AHL Adirondack … The Flames have a 78.9 per cent chance of making the playoffs, according to Sportsclubstats.com … Calgary, in offence, is ranked sixth in the NHL — despite putting the third-fewest shots on goal … The Flames have been short-handed only 163 times, the league’s best mark. The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, have been pegged with 262 penalty-killing jobs … With 62 points, LW Jiri Hudler is 17th in the NHL … Only two players — Los Angeles D Drew Doughty and St. Louis D Alex Pietrangelo — have shouldered more shifts than D T.J. Brodie, who’s taken 2,263 spins this winter … When outshot, the Flames are 23-15-1. That .590 winning percentage is fifth best.