A First-Round Update on Notable Former Flames
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As the Calgary Flames watch the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs from home, some of their former players battled it out in the first round. Let’s recap how some notable prior Flames are fared in their opening matchups.
Noah Hanifin
The prized defenseman of the trade deadline had a serious offensive impact for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Despite falling in seven games to the Dallas Stars, Hanifin had five points. Most importantly, he had two game-winning goals in Game 1 and Game 6, respectively. The two markers were Hanifin’s first career playoff goals after not having scored in any of his three previous visits to the postseason with Calgary.
The smooth-skating defenseman’s finish in Game 6 gave Vegas a late lead, a game they would win 2-0 to force Game 7.
Elias Lindholm
Another big fish Calgary shipped out at the trade deadline made his presence felt for the Vancouver Canucks in their victorious first round.
The Swedish center netted the overtime-winning goal in Vancouver’s miraculous come-from-behind win against the Nashville Predators in Game 4 to grab a stronghold on series.
Lindholm produced three points in the six-game series and now will face the Edmonton Oilers in the second round.
Matthew Tkachuk
Matthew Tkachuk is back up to his incredible playoff play.
After totaling 24 points in 20 games in Florida’s run to the Stanley Cup Final last season, the 2016 first-round pick tallied 9 points in five games as the Florida Panthers knocked off the Tampa Bay Lightning in this year’s first round. Tkachuk scored two goals in Game 3, a game that put Florida up 3-0 in the series.
Next, Florida will take on the Boston Bruins in the second round, a rematch of last year’s epic first-round matchup. Seems like Tkachuk has been ready for them too.
Chris Tanev
Calgary’s final trade deadline departure, Tanev has played crucial minutes for the Dallas Stars’ backend.
Without Jani Hakanpaa, the Stars have been a bit shorthanded on defense, Tanev has stepped up nicely, playing second-pair minutes alongside Esa Lindell. Tanev blocked 27 shots in their seven-game series and was a +6.
Tanev and all of Dallas’ defensemen will need to take it to another level, as the high-flying Colorado Avalanche come to town to start the second round on Tuesday.
Sam Bennett
The feisty Bennett had scored a goal and provided an assist in Game 2 for Florida before friendly fire from teammate Brandon Montour’s slapshot left him in pain. Bennett left the game and did not return for the rest of the series.
The Panthers’ second-line center and Calgary’s first-round pick from 2014 is a big loss every game he doesn’t play. His combination of energy, physicality, and skill fits playoff hockey to a tee.
Bennett will continue to be monitored on a game-by-game basis. He will miss Game 1 Monday night against Boston, but Florida beating Tampa in five games gave him ample time to heal and his return seems to be coming sooner than later.
Cam Talbot/David Rittich
The two former Calgary goaltenders were both needed in the LA Kings series loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Talbot, who started 54 games this season, played three of the five in the series. Despite the Kings coming out on top in Game 2, Talbot’s GAA of 5.30 forced the change to Rittich in Game 4. While Rittich’s play statistically was better than Talbot’s, it still was not enough to get past the Oilers, as Edmonton finished things off in Game 5 at home.