Flames' Tanev expected to miss at least 2 games, injury comes at favourable point of schedule: Sutter
The Calgary Flames are expecting to be without defensive stalwart Chris Tanev for at least the next two games but head coach Darryl Sutter says there will be opportunities for other blueliners to step up.
The 33-year-old suffered an undisclosed 'upper body injury' in the Flames' overtime win over the Columbus Blue Jackets Monday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
"Tanny will miss two games and, if everything goes well, we'll get him back after the break. So if there's any blessing in having a long break, that's it," said Sutter on Wednesday. "Thankfully, with that surgery he had last summer, major surgery, it wasn't that."
The Flames will host the Blackhawks Thursday night before travelling to Seattle for a Friday night game against the Kraken. The team will then have 10 days off before they face the Rangers in New York on Feb. 6.
Sutter says Tanev's injury leaves a void in the team's defensive pairings, but other defensemen will be called upon including Connor Mackey.
"It changes dramatically when you look at it," said Sutter. "Nobody replaces Chris Tanev but I think your defense with guys like Connor coming in and Stoney (Michael Stone) playing a few more minutes in there, but then 'Z' (Nikita Zadorov) goes up a notch, right, and Mackenzie goes back to the right side.
"The only pairing that doesn't get affected is Noah (Hanifin) and Rass (Rasmus Andersson), so they have to continue to be really good players, but then the next four have to take that little bump in their game in terms of some of what Chris does."
Tanev's absence will be felt off the ice as well.
"It's not just the blue line, it's your locker room," said Sutter of Tanev. "Every coach has a handful of players like that where you know you don't have to say nothing or don't have to react, those guys take care of it."
Sutter expects Mackey to make the most of his ice time.
"He's been chomping at the bit. I met with him, I think it was in Chicago, about where he is and that's what happens to lots of defensemen. But we've been getting him to work on both sides to see if that would get him another opportunity, which he hasn't played both sides. Just things like that because you've got to stay ready," said Sutter.
"Connor went four years of school and then two years (in the AHL). It's still, in a lot of ways, it's still a little bit of an apprenticeship."
Taneve has played in 40 games this season, notching one goal and seven assists.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Bob Cole, veteran CBC broadcaster and former voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada,' dead at 90
Bob Cole, legendary CBC broadcaster and former voice of Hockey Night in Canada, has died. He was 90.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.