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Goalie nods: Elliott won’t play against former team, Flames will start Johnson vs. Blues instead

Buffalo Sabres v Calgary Flames

CALGARY, AB - OCTOBER 18: Brian Elliott #1 of the Calgary Flames during warm-ups prior to an NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres during an at Scotiabank Saddledome on October 18, 2016 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)

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Playing against your former team is always special, but Flames goalie Brian Elliott won’t have that pleasure tonight.

Instead of giving Elliott the start against St. Louis, Calgary will turn to Chad Johnson.

“You want to play good against your old teams,” said the veteran goalie, per beat reporter Wes Gilbertson. “Turns out, I didn’t get the opportunity today. Can’t really get hung up on it.”

Elliott spent the previous five seasons with the Blues.

It’s important to point out that these two teams will go head-to-head in St. Louis on Tuesday and Elliott will probably start that game.

“We thought about it, obviously, with (Elliott) having such a great career in St. Louis,” Calgary coach Glen Gulutzan said, per the St. Louis Dispatch. “But at the end of the day, we thought we wanted to keep (Johnson) going a little bit so we put him in.

Still, it has to be disappointing not to face your old teammates.

The 31-year-old has struggled with his new team. He’s dropped each of his first three starts of the season and he’s allowed four goals or more in each of those games.

Jake Allen will be between the pipes for St. Louis.

Elsewhere...

--Carey Price will make his second straight start since coming back from the flu. With Tuukka Rask on the shelf, the Bruins will likely turn to Anton Khudobin.

--We should get an excellent goaltending duel in the Rangers-Capitals game, as Henrik Lundqvist will go up against Braden Holtby.

--Cory Schneider will get the call for the Devils, while the Wild have yet to name a starting goaltender. Don’t be surprised if it’s Devan Dubnyk.

--Martin Jones will be between the pipes for the Sharks. Jimmy Howard gets the nod for the Wings. He was excellent in Wednesday’s 2-1 win over the Rangers.

--Semyon Varlamov will make his third straight start for Colorado. He’s coming off a 27-save shutout against Tampa Bay. Veteran Roberto Luongo will start for Florida.

--Frederik Andersen will be in goal for the Leafs after getting the night off on Thursday. The Blackhawks will likely go with Scott Darling because Corey Crawford played last night.

--Eddie Lack will make his second consecutive start for the ‘Canes. The Flyers will go with Steve Mason.

--Andrei Vasilevskiy starts against Ottawa on Saturday night, while Craig Anderson will face the Bolts.

--The Columbus Blue Jackets have yet to name their starter. Kari Lehtonen will be between the pipes for the Dallas Stars. Lehtonen has a 2.03 goals-against-average and a .934 save percentage against the Jackets in his career.

--Marc-Andre Fleury makes his sixth straight start for the Penguins. The Predators, who have been hit by food poisoning, have yet to name a starter.

--Jacob Markstrom is making another start for the Canucks. Peter Budaj is expected to get the nod for the Kings, after Jeff Zatkoff was injured during the morning skate.