Sharks 3, Flames 1 post-game embers: Season’s over, time for something better

Let’s be honest with ourselves: that game was pointless. Sure, there was a little bit to get out of it; Rasmus Andersson and David Rittich made their NHL debuts, after all, and that’s always special. But in the grand scheme of things? Useless.

You can’t really analyze a game like that. Why was Michael Stone a leader in powerplay ice time? Uh, probably because Mark Giordano, who is never a healthy scratch, was a healthy scratch. Nothing to see here, really.

With one exception: did anyone play well enough to force themselves into the playoff lineup? Two years ago Sam Bennett made his NHL debut in a useless Game 82. He assisted on a Micheal Ferland goal as the Flames lost 5-1 to the Jets. Nothing truly meaningful could be discerned from that game. But Bennett did make the playoff lineup – though Lance Bouma being injured earlier that week probably played a part in that. (Recall that, even though Bennett performed extremely well over his first nine playoff games, as soon as Bouma was healthy he bumped Bennett from his spot on Mikael Backlund’s wing down to the fourth line. That was absurd back then but it just reads as an even more horrific lineup decision now. Wonder what happened to the guy who made that call?)

So, with a couple of days off in between the regular season’s end and the playoffs, practices will be underway – and could there be a lineup change to go with them?

If anybody has a shot based off of Game 82, you have to think it’s Curtis Lazar. Not just because he scored the Flames’ only goal, either; he showed more jump and enthusiasm than most in that game, and didn’t look too out of place alongside Michael Frolik and Matthew Tkachuk. Not as good as Backlund, obviously, but if Lazar makes the lineup he won’t be doing so in a top six spot.

Really, the only guy he could conceivably displace would probably be Lance Bouma. It actually fits: Matt Stajan moves to the left wing, Lazar takes centre, Troy Brouwer remains unscratchable on the right. (Next game is what he’s here for, right??) Just because Lazar is in the Flames’ longer-term plans doesn’t mean he can’t play right now, especially considering what was given up to acquire him and the fact that he can’t be sent down.

You would hope Rasmus Andersson made something of a case for himself as well. He looked much more alive when he was playing alongside Dougie Hamilton as opposed to Dennis Wideman. It was great to see him get that chance.

Also, at least it was something of a confirmation that Glen Gulutzan isn’t married to left-right pairings 100% of the time – just 99% of the time. But hey, that’s something, isn’t it?

Stray thoughts to go out on: