Flames are hot at home, but cool Canucks are good on the road
Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames 7 p.m., Scotiabank Saddledome, TV: Sportsnet West, Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan Sam Bennett vs. The hockey gods
It should probably be Sam Bennett against the Canucks’ starting netminder — Jacob Markstrom started Monday’s matchup against the Red Wings at Rogers Arena, while backup Anders Nilsson and his wife await the birth of a child and Thatcher Demko is up from the farm — but you have to wonder what the snake-bitten Flames forward did to tick off the hockey gods. Through 14 games, Bennett is still pointless. Zero goals. Zero assists. It’s a positive sign that he has nearly doubled his shot total — from nine to 17 — in his past three outings, but the opposing goaltender keeps getting in the way.
1. Johnny be generous
Just your daily reminder that Johnny Gaudreau is really, really good. The Flames’ wee whiz dished out a pair of helpers in Sunday’s 5-4 shootout victory over the Devils, extending his point streak to four games. Gaudreau hit the Christmas break in 2016 with 15 assists, but he’s already equalled that in just 14 skates so far this fall. Heading into Monday, only Tampa Bay Lightning stud Steven Stamkos (18) had provided more setups.
2. Heating up at home
The Flames must have been sick of those questions about their shoddy record on home ice. They’ve improved to 4-4 at the Saddledome with three victories against quality opponents — the Capitals, Penguins and Devils.
3. Waiting game
All eyes at Tuesday’s morning skate will be on Flames right winger Jaromir Jagr, who has been sidelined for six games due to a groin injury. It’s not a sure-thing, but it’s possible No. 68 returns to action against the Canucks. Whenever Jagr is ready, another forward will be reassigned to the AHL’s Stockton Heat. Freddie Hamilton cleared waivers, while Tanner Glass was in the NHL’s take-it-or-leave-it bin Monday.
4. Brock ’n’ roll
A healthy scratch for the first two games, Canucks winger Brock Boeser has emerged as a front-runner in the NHL’s rookie scoring race. Before Monday’s late date with the Red Wings, the 20-year-old was tops among Canucks with 13 points. He scored three Saturday against the Penguins, becoming the second-youngest sniper in franchise history to notch a hat trick, trailing only Trevor Linden.
5. Matchup Notes
The Flames triumphed 5-2 in the first meeting of the season, with Dougie Hamilton racking up three points — a goal and two helpers — during that Oct. 14 clash at Rogers Arena … The Canucks have a 4-1-0 road record this season, but they’ve lost four in a row and eight of their past nine in Calgary’s home barn.