The Calgary Flames took a break from practice on Friday but were busy off the ice with some key roster adjustments. They activated forwards Blake Coleman and John Beecher from the injury reserve list, a move that could bolster their lineup as they prepare for the stretch run.
John Beecher has been sidelined since January 3, following a physical encounter with Nashville's Michael McCarron. The tussle, which began with some heated exchanges between McCarron and MacKenzie Weegar, escalated into punches thrown.
Beecher found himself in the thick of it, initially unable to fully engage before landing a punch on McCarron, which led to a one-game suspension. Adding to his woes, Beecher sustained an upper-body injury during a subsequent fight with Nicolas Hague of the Predators.
Known more for his playmaking than his fighting, Beecher came out on the losing end of that altercation, leading to a 15-game absence. Since joining Calgary from Boston, Beecher has contributed two assists in 19 games.
Blake Coleman, on the other hand, was injured on January 8 in a game against the Bruins. During a skirmish with Mason Lohrei, Coleman ended up on the ice with Lohrei landing awkwardly on him, resulting in an upper-body injury. Coleman missed the last 12 games before the Olympic break but has been a solid performer this season, tallying 13 goals and 21 points over 44 games.
According to Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet, Coleman has been practicing alongside Morgan Frost and Matvei Gridin, while Beecher has been working between Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka. These combinations could provide some fresh dynamics for the Flames as they gear up for their next matchup.
The Flames' roster is now at the 23-player limit, featuring two goaltenders, seven defensemen, and 14 forwards. This includes Jonathan Huberdeau, who is set to undergo season-ending hip surgery in March, and Martin Pospisil, currently representing Slovakia at the Olympics. The Flames have the option to place Huberdeau on the IR if they need to open up a roster spot.
Looking ahead, Calgary is set to hit the ice again on Thursday when they face the San Jose Sharks. With Coleman and Beecher back in the fold, the Flames are aiming to make a strong push as the season progresses.