Chad Johnson leaves Anaheim game with apparent injury

Tonight’s game between the Calgary Flames and the Anaheim Ducks was expected to be a night off for Flames top goaltender Brian Elliott. With the playoffs looming and a couple games left to use as tune-ups, the Flames turned to Chad Johnson to start against the Ducks.

Unfortunately, Elliott’s night off lasted just 5:19. He went down after a save and after the whistle, conferred with Flames trainer Kent Kobelka and left the game.

Officially, Johnson faced just a single shot.

If he’s out for a little bit, the placement of the Flames games this week is rather fortunate as the Stockton Heat are also conveniently located in California. Both David Rittich and Jon Gillies have played well for the Heat and would be perfectly fine options for backing up Elliott for the next few games (while the other one back-stops the Heat during their quest for a playoff spot).

Rittich is arguably the better of the two goalies this season: he’s second in the AHL in shutouts, eighth in save percentage and 10th in goals against average. That said, Gillies got the emergency call-up earlier this season when Elliott was too sick to dress.

We’ll have more on this story as it develops.