After missing the last 13 games due to a lower-body injury, All Star goaltender Mike Smith will be in uniform Sunday when the club hosts the visiting Islanders, and just in time for a final playoff push with only 13 games remaining on the regular season schedule. Whether or not Smith starts between the pipes is not yet known since the Flames did not hold as morning skate.
Smith was officially activated off injured reserve in the morning, and the team assigned rookie goalie Jon Gillies to Stockton of the AHL. Ironically, he suffered what is believed to be a groin injury in a Feb. 11 games against the Islanders in Brooklyn, a 3-2 Flames victory.
"I don't want to come back and just be mediocre," Smith told reporters following Saturday's practice. "I want to come back and pick up where I left off."
In 47 appearances this season, Smith is 23-16-6 with a 2.53 GAA, .921 save percentage and two shutouts.
The Flames treaded water the past month without their No. 1 netminder, posting a 5-6-2 record, buoyed by consecutive road wins over the woeful Sabres and Senators this week. The two straight wins follow an 0-3-1 winless skid in which the Flames were outscored 17-6.
They enter play Sunday sitting in tenth place in the tight Western Conference with 78 points, just two behind Colorado for the final wild card spot. The Flames are also only two points behind the Ducks for third place in the Pacific Division. Of course, also in their way for both spots are the Kings, who are one point ahead of Calgary in the standings.
The Flames open a crucial three-game homestand against the Islanders, with the Oilers and Sharks to follow by the end of the week. The team is only 14-15-4 on home ice this season, and just 2-4-4 since late January.