The Calgary Flames are currently the hottest team in the National Hockey League, boasting an active seven-game winning streak. Their team success has been driven by some nice individual performances, and two of those performances have been recognized by the NHL.
In their weekly Three Stars awards, the league has named Johnny Gaudreau first star and Mike Smith second star.
Gaudreau had eight points over four games this week, pushing his season totals to 54 points in 45 games. He’s currently tied for second in league scoring with Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux, just six points back of Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov.
Smith went undefeated in three starts for the Flames, allowing just four goals in the process. He now boasts a 20-13-3 record in 38 games, along with a 2.46 goals against average and a .924 save percentage. He’s the third most-used goaltender in the NHL, but remains near the top group in the usual box-car goalie stats: wins, goals against average and save percentage.
In unrelated news, word from the NHL to the Nations Network is that Flames captain Mark Giordano does not have a disciplinary hearing scheduled for his match penalty in Sunday’s win in Carolina. Postmedia’s Wes Gilbertson has confirmed that he will not face any supplemental discipline for the incident.
Awesome~Awesome and getting it right Awesome!!!!!!
Great! A couple people have to eat some crow around here, but I’m glad they got the call right. Every time I watch the replay of that hit I wonder what the hell Aho was doing. He knew Gio was there and was going to try and toe drag it around him, keep your head up kid this could have been so much worse.
Even his coach was wondering what the hell he was doing! He said he thought the AHo was in a position to shoot….then with his head down looking at his nice toe-drag he got hit. What was Gio supposed to do? sidestep him and let him in to score? The game misconduct was too much! Hope AHo recovers soon.
Some crazy ‘Canes fan (with a verified checkmark) on twitter compared it (the Aho hit) to the Trayvon Martin shooting… they sure do bake um’ funny in the States.
That’s way beyond hyperbolic.
I mean, it’s nice that they care so much about hockey at least!
This is a happy, sunny article! I like it. Good news on a Monday afternoon. Also looks like some people have a lost a bet and won’t be posting for a little while. Already can’t wait for Saturday – GFG
Intent to Injure Match Penalty. That is just a terrible call. Glad Player Safety didn’t bite.
In advance: good to see you still posting Luck 13…you stripe wearer, you.
To paraphrase the great poet Laureate of our day, the immortal Birdman;
“He put his feet down and his nuts on the concrete.”
(I thought he’d get a game, for the record).
So you were wrong as usaul lol
I’m pretty sure people don’t even read your comments anymore BTF…They just see your name and hit the trashes
Am I missing something? This guy’s posts seem to get trashed constantly, and I don’t see why. What happened?
Hes a sensitive soul.
Third star Kessel….??
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Tkachuk must have been too hard to spell
Not often I get to say it but I WAS RIGHT FOR ONCE HAHA!
This is the correct call. They must have concluded like some of us did that there is also an onus on the player not to put himself in such a vulnerable position. Keep your head up cruising through the slot son. Lesson learned. Hope he is OK.
Johnny well deserves his first place star of the week. He got 8 points in 4 games while on the road.
Ditto Smitty. Great road record too.
Things are coming up Flames!
In evaluating the Gio discipline issue you have to ask what else could
Gio have done…he was lined up for a check, if not that was he just supposed to let Aho go by? Your a defender and it’s the NHL not timbits. A stick check was not an option.
That said for all those saying they saw this coming and predicted no suspension – your gambling with fire. I mean how often does the NHL make the right call!?
Cheers to Thunder1 and Balzac Flames for being good sports about the bet on the Giordano suspension.
They won’t be commenting on here for 10 games. Both classy and honourable guys. ?
Yes they will. If not them as is it’ll be them under a different account. You know, like Carl and Walt.
And sooooooo many others.
never numbnuts… a bet is a bet. Layoff Monahan in my absence, I’ll be taking names!
I would never bet against a guy called Lucky.
Your best post ever! Keep it up!
I find you (Mr Bean) just so creepy and uncomfortable to watch, along the lines of the “chocolate bar” eating scene in American Wedding.
Better?
Finally they get some props from the league. Now if someone could only move the flames up in the power rankings. How the heck is Edmonton in front of them?
Those 2 have been the best Flames all year. And they got the call right on Giordano – I wasn’t so sure they would.
In other news…
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames-deep-talented-worthy-hype/
Eric Francis has no more credibility with me. He is bought and paid for by the flames.
Interesting… watching the Vegas at Nashville game and the hit on Ryan Johansen caught his chin. So why wasn’t Carrier given 5 and a game like Gio?