Eric Francis

Nothing makes me more anxious around an arena than having to do music for one of my son’s games. Can someone please help me by sending one of your banger of a hockey rink playlists?!?

Ugly night for the Flames, a sad one for the BOA, a new spotlight on Wolf’s bounce back tour, and reaction from the Flames on why they didn’t respond to Colton Dach’s two goalie collisions: my column from last night in Edmonton:

For a group that prides itself on an all-for-one, one-for-all mentality, it sure seemed odd that in a game that was clearly lost early in the third, the Flames chose not to make Colton Dach answer for his liberties around the net.  Though neither play appeared malicious or with intent, teams generally push back when opponents feel comfortable to attack the crease area (twice) with speed.  
Adam Klapka had words with Dach before a mid-third period faceoff, but no one pressed the issue. Seems very un-Battle of Alberta-like. I asked the coach and players about it after the game. “I don't think I call it running the goalie. The second one, he was knocked in by our player,” said Ryan Huska. “There's no intent on either. The first one, he's just driving the net. If there's a situation where something were to happen that wasn't the right way, they would be in there 100 per cent.” Mikael Backlund was asked about it too. “Well, first I thought the team was right around Cools, so we didn't know he was hurt at the time, and we knew we were getting a power play,” he said of the first collision, which was a net-driving play that saw Morgan Frost’s defensive efforts contribute to the collision. “Second time, I think I called him and I pushed him, and so that was kind of more on me. I know he was upset, he wanted a tripping call.” Wolf was asked if he thought Dach was reckless. “I guess you could call it that,” he said. “I think accidents happen, but at the same time, he took a pretty good run at Cools when he could have probably hit the brakes. That was maybe a little more of a tangle-up in the third period. But at the same time, you want to protect your your own guys, I think we're going to keep doing that.”

Leave it to Devin Cooley to provide his own injury update, complete with a pic of the crease crash. What a beauty:

Ryan Huska said he had no update on Cooley’s lower body injury. “He just talked to the trainer (during the first intermission), so the call was made then to remove him from the game.”

A sad commentary on the provincial rivalry when Colton Dach knocks one goalie out of the game and then crashes the crease a second time without repercussions. Flames are usually better at that stuff than this.

Flames confirm Cooley (lower body) and Othmann (upper body) are officially done for the night. The first came on a crease-crash from Colton Dach, the second likely from a fight with Ty Emberson.

This new, empty seat issue in Edmonton is very real, and it’s a story that we are going to continually hear more of around the league moving forward.

Brennan Othmann also missing from the Flames bench

Dustin Wolf in net for the second period, which likely means that bump Cooley took from Dach isn’t feeling too good. Cooley isn’t on the bench. EBUG Dusty Nickel no longer in the press box.

Fascinated (as always) to talk to Cooley, but particularly interested in finding out the story on the mismatched gloves.

Devin Cooley in the starter’s net here in Edmonton this morning, set to make his 5th straight start.

Mike Babcock said Zach Hyman is on IR with a “stiff neck.”

“Obviously my nickname is Griddy, and I was thinking about that for a long time, and I thought it was a good moment to do that — up by three and having fun. A couple old guys said it was a bit too much, but I think they loved it.” My piece on the coming out of the Flames’ swaggiest youngster:

“Obviously my nickname is Griddy, and I was thinking about that for a long time, and I thought it was a good moment to do that – up by three and having fun." Mate Gridin on his 2 goal, 3 point dance against the Leafs. “They all loved it. A couple old says said it was a bit too much, but I think they loved it."

Everything is happening everywhere, as Sharangovich lays out Marchenko, who hobbles to the bench favouring his leg. Yes, I wrote Sharangovich.

Suniev back on the bench.