NHL Notebook: Looking at potential dates for the Edmonton Oilers playoff games and Calgary Flames to play two rookies
By Zach Laing
1 year agoWe’ve officially got a look here at which day the playoffs could kick-off for the Edmonton Oilers next week.
According to Tom Gazzola, the Oilers and LA Kings would likely start their series on Monday. If the Oilers face the Winnipeg Jets, it would likely start Tuesday, but it’s unknown when a series against Seattle would kick off.
According to The Sporting Tribune’s Arash Markazi, the Kings, who don’t have home-ice advantage, are hoping the to have their home games on next Friday and next Sunday. That’s due to there being both LA Clippers and LA Lakers NBA games going on next week. Both Friday and Sunday are the only free days.
Flames playing rookies Wolf, Coronato
With the Calgary Flames eliminated from playoffs, the team is (finally) playing some rookies.
The club recalled Dustin Wolf from the AHL Wranglers, where he’s had a tremendous season, and are getting rookie Matt Coronato into the lineup for his first NHL game.
Here’s some of what Flamesnation’s Ryan Pike wrote about the moves:
It’s Wolf’s third call-up to the NHL, following a pair of short-term recalls where he dressed as backup – once to Jacob Markstrom and once to Dan Vladar.If we’re being honest here, Wolf is one of the top goaltending prospects in the entire sport. He’s 21 and turns 22 on Sunday. He was the fourth-from-last selection (214th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft.Since joining the Everett Silvertips of the Western League back in 2017, Wolf has had a heck of an ascendance. He’s been goalie of the year in the WHL (2019-20, 2020-21), CHL (2020-21) and AHL (2022-23), and since going pro in 2020 he’s been probably the best goaltender in all of minor pro hockey. All this before the age of 22.Wolf has backstopped the Wranglers to a heck of a season. They’re destined for the Calder Cup playoffs, and seem primed for a lengthy run. But before that begins, Wolf gets a nice reward for two spectacular AHL seasons with his first NHL appearance.…The Flames’ first-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, Coronato signed an entry-level contract in late March following Harvard’s elimination from the NCAA national championship tournament. Since then, Coronato’s been practising with the club and biding his time.Well, consider his time fully bided: it’s time for him to play.Wednesday’s game against the San Jose Sharks will only have draft implications for the Flames, and it’ll fundamentally just determine whether they draft 13th or 16th. Considering the lack of playoff implications, it’ll be interesting to see how many new (young) faces the Flames put into their lineup in Game 82.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
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