CBC-Sports

Return of (some) healthy bodies a relief for Flames

April 14, 2009 08:55 PM | Posted by   CBC Sports Staff  

The reinforcements are back.

Well, most of them.

The Calgary Flames are going to start their playoff series against Chicago without top shutdown defencemen Robyn Regehr (knee injury) and Cory Sarich (foot), but Dion Phaneuf will be in action for Thursday’s opener against Chicago after missing two games and Anders Eriksson is expected to play after clearing re-entry waivers.

Eriksson spent the season in the AHL due to Calgary’s salary cap woes.

The really good news is up front.

Left-winger Rene Bourque is good to go, as is Curtis Glencross. That puts the club in good stead, at least at forward.

Fresh bodies, new combinations

With that in mind, Flames head coach Mike Keenan had his lines like this:

Rene Bourque - Olli Jokinen - Jarome Iginla
Michael Cammalleri - Daymond Langkow - Todd Bertuzzi
Curtis Glencross - Craig Conroy - David Moss
Eric Nystrom - Warren Peters - Jamie Lundmark

On defence, it was:

Jordan Leopold - Dion Phaneuf
Adam Pardy - Adrian Aucoin
Jim Vandermeer - Anders Eriksson

In Chicago, the Blackhawks are optimistic Patrick Sharp (leg) will return. Sharp didn’t skate with the top four lines, but all signs say he’ll be there.

Sharp played coy, while coach Joel Quenneville said “it looks like he’ll be ready” to play.

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