The Daily: Flames Should Ride Vladar, Canucks A Mess

The Calgary Flame have hit a goaltending crossroads. For most of the season, the better guy has been the backup. It's time to ride Dan Vladar until he has a stinker. Meanwhile, the Patrick Kane sweepstakes have not yet begun, but John Klingberg may be about to hit the NHL trade rumours. And boy, the Vancouver Canucks can't seem to avoid the drama. One player accused the team of mishandling Tanner Pearson’s injury, there are swirling trade rumours, and now a report that the team might shove aside Bruce Boudreau for Rick Tocchet.

It’s insanity in Vancouver. They're a good team that should be better, but instead of building around a good core, they’re imploding. It's total chaos.

Calgary Flames

Everyone outside the locker-room is saying it. Ride Vladar. He's got a 6-0-2 record in his last eight starts. Markstrom has been up and down despite some pretty good play the last couple of months. Let him play until he shows signs of fatigue then jump back to Markstrom. Time for a bit of a tandem. 

How about that game from Walker Duehr. His first NHL goal came at a key time for the Calgary Flames to help them win in St. Louis. 

Tried something new post-game. The Flames Plus/Minus. Took a look at the good and bad with some instant analysis. Spoiler: Vladar was good. 

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:

TSN: An update on Patrick Kane and soon the NHL trade rumours will include John Klingerberg, who had to submit his 10-team list.

Sportsnet: Canucks messy drama. The Canucks are talking to Rick Tocchet to take over as coach. Bruce Boudreau scratched Oliver Ekman-Larsson. And Quinn Hughes not so subtly accused the Canucks of mishandling Tanner Pearson’s hand injury. Pearson had a setback and is out of the year.

Montreal Hockey Now: Watch the three standing ovations as the Montreal Canadiens honoured P.K Subban.

And another WiFi fight. This kid can throw. Arber Xhekaj dropped the mitts with Tanner Jeannot in the Canadiens’ win. Watch the Arber Xhekaj fight.

Vegas Hockey Now: Keegan Kolesar got a haircut and led the Golden Knights. He had two assists, a fight, and six hits in the Vegas Golden Knights win over Florida.

Both Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone were injured in games last night. Call it deja vu.

Colorado Hockey Now: Evan Rawal hits this one out of the park. Twitter skewered Colorado after the lowly Chicago Blackhawks skated past them, 3-2. Is it panic time for the Colorado Avalanche?

Boston Hockey Now: Wow. It took until Jan. 12. Get the details of the FIRST regulation home loss this season for the Boston Bruins.

Philly Hockey Now: Damn those iPads! John Tortorella got rid of iPads from the Philadelphia Flyers bench.

Owen Tippett is finding his game. Was the Claude Giroux trade a win for the Philadelphia Flyers?

Washington Hockey Now: Is the relationship broken between Anthony Mantha and the Washington Capitals? Calling the Calgary Flames tire kickers.

NYI: The Islanders blew a lead and lost to the Minnesota Wild. Go inside the locker room. Frustration is growing inside the New York Islanders.

Detroit Red Wings: It’s been YEARS since Detroit beat Toronto. They finally did on Thursday. Robby Fabbri’s energy propelled the 4-1 Detroit Red Wings win.