All the latest from the blue paint …
Battling for the Flames job
The Calgary Flames have been much better than expected, which makes the battle for the starting job far more lucrative than anticipated.
Jonas Hiller has had the upper hand for stretches, but it seemed like Karri Ramo wrestled it back as December rolled around. Now Hiller has another chance to assert himself as the No. 1 guy, as this marks his second straight start, and it’s an interesting one against the Chicago Blackhawks.
On one hand, Chicago remains one of the best teams in the league, so it could be a busy night for the Swiss-born goalie. On the other, the Blackhawks are coming off a loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday, so the Flames may face a fatigued team.
Hiller’s currently on a four-game losing streak. He’s 9-8-1 with a .912 save percentage and a 2.50 GAA.
Those aren’t lousy numbers, yet they aren’t outstanding either. His best chance to make an impression is to shut down the Blackhawks, then.
It’s unclear who he’ll face at the moment, though one might lean a bit toward Antti Raanta since Scott Darling played last night.
Elsewhere ...
Kings at Maple Leafs: It should be Jonathan Quick vs. James Reimer.
Rangers at Oilers: Expect Cam Talbot vs. Ben Scrivens.