SNAPSHOTS: Flames' Tkachuk could return for Game 4

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EDMONTON — The bad news?

The Calgary Flames were missing one of their most important players in Friday’s Game 3 of their best-of-seven series against the Dallas Stars.

The good news?

Matthew Tkachuk could return as early as Sunday for the fourth game of this showdown  (noon MT, Sportsnet West/ Sportsnet 960 The Fan).

“He does so much for our team, obviously,” said Flames head coach Geoff Ward in his post-game media press conference via Zoom following Calgary’s 2-0 victory. “It’s a huge hole for us. In saying that, it’s a day-by-day situation with him and we’re hopeful that he’ll be back for Game 4.”

Tkachuk, who was a game-time decision prior to Friday’s clash, left the ice several times during Thursday’s Game 2 loss to the Dallas Stars.

The 22-year-old left winger departed in the first period after Stars forward Jamie Benn speared him in the groin area. He retreated back down the tunnel to the Flames’ locker room later in the opening frame. But the most notable incident and source of a potential injury was when he was sandwiched by Benn and Dallas defender Jamie Oleksiak in the third period.

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Tkachuk has a goal and an assist through six games of the post-season but is also one of their emotional leaders.

The last time he missed a game was Dec. 10 in Arizona during the 2019-20 regular season campaign (prior to the COVID-19 pause) due to an upper body injury after a collision with Colorado Avalanche defender Nikita Zadorov the night before.

On Friday, Tobias Rieder took his spot on the second line with Andrew Mangiapane and Mikael Backlund. Mark Jankowski was a scratch, while Alan Quine, one of Calgary’s reserve players, and Zac Rinaldo drew into the lineup.

And it was the fourth line of Quine, Rinaldo and Derek Ryan that was the reason why the Flames were able to pull ahead 2-0 in the third period — a lead they rode until the game’s final buzzer.

“The most important lineup is the one that’s on the ice,” Ward said. “It’s unfortunate we don’t have (Tkachuk), and it’s a huge hole in our lineup, but it’s an opportunity for other guys. I thought the guys came in (Friday night) and did a really good job. I thought Zac Rinaldo came in and gave us some energy. I thought the screen on the second goal was huge in front of the net by him. I thought Alan Quine was real good in his first game. They had some real good shifts for us down the stretch in the third period. It gave our team some energy. Derek Ryan was really, really good.

“In light of the fact Matthew wasn’t able to play, we got exactly what we needed with guys stepping up in other areas for us, so that’s a real positive thing.”

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DELAY OF GAME?

After Blake Comeau smashed his stick in frustration towards the end of the second period, the glass beside the Stars bench broke and caused the arena crews to do some repairs.

Many thought it should have been a delay-of-game penalty (especially Calgary’s bench), but the officials’ hands stayed down. Instead the only penalty that was called was for TJ Brodie’s hooking infraction on Stars veteran Andrew Cogliano.

But with 38.1 seconds remaining on the clock and things taking longer than expected, both teams retreated to the dressing rooms for the second-period intermission. And, instead, they played out the second period before beginning the third period.

It was good news for the Stars, who were starting a power play on a fresh sheet of ice. But not so much for the Flames, who had to defend on the penalty-kill.

MARVELLOUS MIRO

There are plenty of reasons why Miro Heiskanen was selected third overall in the 2017 NHL Draft — and the Flames are becoming familiar with all of them in this best-of-seven first-round series.

The 21-year-old Finnish defender had two goals and five assists heading into Friday’s clash, with the two goals coming in the Stars 5-4 victory on Thursday night in Game 2.

“Obviously he’s a good skater — I think we knew that coming in,” said Flames forward Andrew Mangiapane. “He’s a good player. You’ve always gotta watch when he’s on the ice. They’ve got a good d-corps, so their guys are always jumping into the rush so we always have to stay above them.

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“We know what he’s all about, and he’s a good player. We just have to look out for him.”

Heiskanen’s explosive ability to jump into the rush along with all of his other intangibles is no secret, that’s for sure.

“I mean … a third-overall pick who has already been an all-star?” said Flames forward Milan Lucic. “He was all of those things for a reason. He’s been a key part of their success since he’s been there. He’s a guy you’ve definitely gotta key in on.”

Ward agrees.

“He’s a big-time player,” the coach said of Heiskanen. “God, you could see it right from the day he stepped into the league. He had a huge effect on the hockey game (Thursday). I thought all of Dallas’ top players came to play and had a huge effect on the game. But he does an awful lot of great things and skates so well. He’s an impactful guy. His fingerprints were all over the win (Thursday) night for Dallas.”

THAT’S THE TOOTH

A funny moment happened during Thursday’s game when Mangiapane bent down to pick something up off the ice.

The speedy winger had looked to have scored on a goalmouth scramble, which also resulted in Flames defender Brodie absorbing a Tyler Seguin stick to the mouth. The goal was eventually called back, but the Stars forward received double-minor penalty for the errant stick.

“I couldn’t even tell you what happened, really,” Mangiapane said. “The puck went in — I didn’t even really know it was off me. I honestly thought Brodes scored it or something.”

Nope. Worse. Brodie’s two front teeth were missing.

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But, luckily, Mangiapane found them.

“I just looked to the ground and saw Brode’s tooth — it was like, ‘Oh, there’s his tooth,’” Mangiapane said. “It happens, right?”

The most funny part of it all was Mangiapane was seen offering the tooth back to Brodie as they skated towards the bench. He declined.

“The mouth feels fine. I’m just trying to learn how to talk (without teeth) now,” Brodie said with a chuckle.

AROUND THE BOARDS

The Flames announced that forward Austin Czarnik has left the bubble in Edmonton on Friday to attend a family matter. Czarnik was on the team’s reserve squad which has been practising daily in case of injury to the main group … With Rieder’s shortie in Game 2 and Backlund’s in Game 3, it gave the Flames short-handed goals in back-to-back playoff games for the first time since May 15 and May 17 in 1995 versus the San Jose Sharks, when German Titov and Paul Kruse scored short-handed … The quote of the day goes to Lucic, who was asked about the playoff atmosphere at Rogers Place without fans. “Obviously it’s different when you don’t have the crowd noise,” Lucic said. “They’ve been making effort to pump in crowd noise when there’s a big save or a big hit or a chance or anything like that. But, to be honest, the emotion of the game and players going at each other and the hits, it doesn’t feel any different than any other playoffs I’ve been a part of. That’s my take on it. I feel like the hockey has been really good — even as a fan watching on TV, it’s been entertaining. It’s been what playoff hockey is all about. Obviously we do miss the fans and they add a little bit to it. But from an on-ice standpoint, it truly feels the same as what I’ve experienced in the past.”

kanderson@postmedia.com

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