NASHVILLE — The news is catching everybody off guard.
The Los Angeles Kings, on the heels of firing Terry Murray Monday, are targeting former Flames head coach and GM Darryl Sutter to be the new bench boss in Southern California.
Flames head coach Brent Sutter didn’t know any more details — as to whether his older brother would take the job — but said he wouldn’t be surprised.
“There’s a history with him and Dean (Lombardi, the Kings GM), going back to San Jose,” Brent Sutter said. “It’s not a shock to me if it does materialize.
“To me, that’s where Darryl’s niche is.”
On the ice, the Flames look like they’ll be without Rene Bourque due to the flu which is working it’s way through the room. He’s likely going to be the third player in as many outings to not play because of it, and the club is going to be watching very closely whether anybody else falls ill between now and gametime. Against Edmonton on Saturday night, defenceman Derek Smith was ill just before the game, but somehow managed to play.
As well, defenceman Brett Carson is ready to make his NHL season debut after battling a back problem which began in the summer. Carson played four games for the AHL Abbotsford Heat before being recalled from his conditioning stint.
This is how the Flames skated in the morning:
Forwards
Curtis Glencross – Olli Jokinen – Jarome Iginla
Blake Comeau – Mikael Backlund – Lee Stempniak
Brendan Morrison – Roman Horak – Alex Tanguay
Tom Kostopoulos – Matt Stajan – Tim Jackman
Defence
Chris Butler – Jay Bouwmeester
Scott Hannan – Derek Smith
T.J. Brodie – Brett Carson
That would mean Cory Sarich and Joe Piskula as healthy scratches, but don’t be shocked if one was pressed into duty if the team had to play with only 11 forwards.
Miikka Kiprusoff is tagged to start in net.
Categories: General