It’s a surprise move — a scoring-starved team scratching one of their most dangerous shooters and a fixture on the top power-play unit.
But that is Sunday’s big storyline from the Saddledome, with Matt Coronato set to sit out as the Flames play host to the New York Rangers. The locals are trying to bust out of an eight-game losing skid.
Coronato has two goals this fall, which actually ranks him second on the team, although both of those came in the home-opener.
The 22-year-old right-winger has since been held off the score-sheet in six in a row. With a miserable minus-9 rating, he is tied for worst among Flames forwards.
Nonetheless, this move will certainly have many second-guessing head coach Ryan Huska as he tried to steer his squad out of a 1-7-1 rut.
The Flames need to light more lamps — they are averaging only 1.67 snipes per night, last in the league in that category — and need more pop out of their power-play. They also need to continue to invest in the development of their young players.
All three would seem to be good reasons to keep Coronato in the lineup.
There’s also the fact that the Long Island native scored in both meetings with the Rangers last season.