Calgary could have a new face in its lineup in Elmira, NY, native John Beecher, whom it claimed off waivers from Boston on Tuesday. Beecher, a first-round draft pick in 2019, has 11 goals in 136 career NHL games.
Beecher joins a Flames team that has struggled out of the gate, particularly on offense. They rank last in the NHL in goals scored despite positive even-strength numbers; their expected goals-for percentage at 5-on-5 (which is calculated based on the quality of chances for and against) actually ranks sixth in the NHL at 54.28 percent.
Despite the abundance of even-strength chances, the Flames have the NHL’s lowest shooting percentage (7.12 percent, according to Money Puck) and the league’s least successful power play (12.7 percent).
With Dustin Wolf having started in Chicago on Tuesday, look for Devin Cooley – a member of the Sabres organization in 2023-24 – to get the start in net tonight. Cooley has been a bright spot for the Flames to start the season with a .935 save percentage in five games.
