CALGARY—Facing elimination and requiring an offensive spark, the Calgary Flames scratched playoff veteran James Neal to make room for Austin Czarnik in Friday night’s Game 5 against the Colorado Avalanche. The Flames trailed the Avalanche three games to one in their best-of-seven opening-round series. James Neal will be scratched off in Game 5 against the Colorado Avalanche to make room for Austin Czarnik despite Neal’s playoff veteran status. We think it’s the right move to make at this time.”Article Continued BelowNeal had a combined 12 goals and eight assists in 42 playoff games with those teams. The 31-year-old mustered seven shots on net, had zero points and was minus-3 in Calgary’s first four games of the series.

Source: thestar April 19, 2019 19:30 UTC