Last night, the Calgary Flames began a crucial three-game road trip with a game at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

Well, most of them did, as veteran winger Jiri Hudler didn’t play. The reasons for his absence from the lineup are a bit murky, but through the haze of what the Flames hockey operations group has said publicly, one thing seems pretty apparent: Jiri Hudler was a healthy scratch last night.

Here’s why we think so.

Sure, Bob.

From the various tweets from the fine members of local media who’ve been at all of the recent practices, here’s a timeline that we’ve been able to cull together of Jiri Hudler’s week.

On Thursday, Hudler was absent from practice.

On Friday, Hudler missed the game-day skate and then missed the game entirely due to the flu.

On Saturday, Hudler missed practice again with the flu.

Everyone was off on Sunday. Hudler was back on the ice on Monday for practice, though he didn’t take line rushes with the regulars.

Hudler was sick Friday and Saturday and had Sunday off. He was well enough for full practice on Monday and to travel with the team. Unless he got sick again all of a sudden, the illness timeline doesn’t match up.

Hudler hasn’t played well of late. Here’s his last 10 games.

Yikes.

Hudler being legitimately sick on Friday gave the Flames an opportunity to glimpse how they looked without #24 dragging down Gaudreau and Monahan. They looked good and beat Chicago. It was the team’s most complete game of the season.

Parking Hudler upstairs for a second game, when he’s presumably back to good health, is a perfect chance for Bob Hartley to send a message to his slumping veteran without openly criticizing Hudler’s play. It makes complete sense.

Unfortunately, it’s a logical enough move as to become completely transparent.

Unless Hudler’s illness made a miraculous last-minute comeback, he was a healthy scratch last night.