The Calgary Flames are facing a crucial game on Tuesday, needing a win against the Vegas Golden Knights, who are prioritizing rest for their key players before the playoffs.
The Golden Knights have announced that they will rest key players including Alex Pietrangelo, Noah Hanifin, Jack Eichel, and Mark Stone for the game. Ilya Samsonov will be the starting goalie, with Adin Hill as backup.
Vegas has already secured the Pacific Division title, meaning these last games do not impact their playoff standing.
For the Flames, this game is critical for their playoff aspirations. Calgary must defeat Vegas and rely on other game outcomes to have a chance to stay in the playoff race. If both the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild win their respective games in regulation time, the Flames will be eliminated from playoff contention.
Despite resting some of their top players, it`s worth noting that the Golden Knights previously defeated the Flames 3-2 in overtime last month, even with their third-string goalie in net.
Tristan Blackwood