GAMEDAY: Flames to honour Gaudreaus before matchup with Blue ...

13 hours ago

Calgary Herald

Guy Gaudreau chats with Columbus Blue Jacket players Sean Monahan and Jenner Boone while skating at the Calgary Flames practice in Calgary on Monday December 2, 2024. Gavin Young/Postmedia

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Calgary Flames - Figure 1 — Photo Calgary Herald

Columbus Blue Jackets (11-9-3) at Calgary Flames (12-9-4)

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When: Tuesday, 7 p.m. MT, Scotiabank Saddledome

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TV: Sportsnet West. Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan

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Odds: Blue Jackets +108, Flames -130

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The buzz

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This will be an emotional and memorable night, with the Gaudreau family visiting the Saddledome for the first time since losing both of their boys, Johnny and Matthew, in a terrible tragedy in late August. Johnny starred for nine seasons with the Flames and two more with the Blue Jackets. Matthew’s pro career included a stint with the Flames’ farm team. Prior to Tuesday’s contest, this heartbroken family — including parents Guy and Jane, sisters Kristen and Katie and Johnny’s wife Meredith and their two kids — will stand at centre ice for a ceremonial face-off, an opportunity for the C of Red to show its love and support. There will also be a video tribute, while both teams will warm up in No. 13 jerseys that will be auctioned off to support charity.

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While the game is a secondary storyline, this is a rematch of a feisty affair on Black Friday in Columbus. The Blue Jackets notched a 5-2 victory, while the Flames had more fights than goals. Martin Pospisil tussled twice, Ryan Lomberg earned praise for trying his luck against a bonafide heavyweight in Mathieu Olivier and Blake Coleman and Nazem Kadri did the lamp-lighting in a losing cause.

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The quote

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“You want Johnny’s legacy to continue to carry on. It’s that expression of gone but not forgotten. Any way we can continue to honour him and share in his memory, I think it’s important to continue to do so. Hopefully, his family enjoys the reunion of coming back to Calgary. Because I know the people here, they really care about him and want to show their love and appreciation. I think it’s going to be a special night and hopefully we can get the win for Johnny this time.”

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— Flames alternate captain Blake Coleman

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The news

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The locals are looking to snap out of a four-game skid. They were 0-3-1 on their recent road-trip, outscored by a combined count of 17-8 along the way.After averaging a measly 2.27 goals per game during the month of November, second-lowest in the league, the Flames recalled two of the most productive forwards from their farm team. Jakob Pelletier earned another chance by piling up 19 points — including 16 assists — in 20 outings in the minors, while Walker Duehr scored a promotion with 11 snipes for the Wranglers.For the first time in his Flames career, Andrei Kuzmenko will be a healthy scratch. The struggling right-winger has potted just one goal this season, and that was back on Oct. 15. He didn’t have a single shot attempt in Saturday’s lopsided loss in Pittsburgh. As head coach Ryan Huska explained: “Sometimes, a player just needs to take a step back and catch his breath a little bit, and I think Andrei is in that category right now. Watching a game and having a bit of a different view of what’s going on and where he is a good player, sometimes that’s important.”Johnny’s best friend and longtime Flames linemate, Sean Monahan, returns to the Saddledome for the first time in a Blue Jackets jersey. He’ll undoubtedly receive a warm welcome from the crowd. Monahan buried 212 goals during his nine campaigns in the Flaming C logo and has five points — a hat-trick of tallies and two assists — in a pair of previous games as a visitor to Calgary.

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The projected lineup

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Forwards Huberdeau-Kadri-PospisilSharangovich-Backlund-CoronatoColeman-Zary-DuehrPelletier-Rooney-LombergDefence Bahl-AnderssonWeegar-MiromanovBean-PachalGoalies VladarWolf

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The injuries

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Justin Kirkland (lower body), Anthony Mantha (knee)

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