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Surely, it s the height of awkwardness.But, according to Derek Smith(notes), that s simply not the case. Sitting daily beside the man you ve supplanted is no cause for concern. No, not at all, Smith said after Tuesday s practice at the Scotiabank Saddledome. It s professional. Despite holding down a spot in the Calgary Flames opening-day lineup against the Pittsburgh Penguins and making one football result other appearance Oct. 15 in Toronto Anton Babchuk(notes) has been scratched five times in favour of Smith, his dressing-room neighbour. We ve all been in this situation, Smith said. It s just one of those things that comes with the game. Everybody s been through it. It s not really a big deal. Part of the game. So Smith is comfortable these days. Babchuk? Not so much.Brent Sutter offered football result no clues regarding the degree of Babchuk s involvement in today s match against the visiting Colorado Avalanche. Babs, I m sure he s not pleased with it and he s upset with it, the Flames coach said. I m sure he s disappointed that he hasn t played as much as he would ve liked. But he ll get his opportunity, he ll get his chance. When exactly that chance arrives is another question. Nobody s to football result ld me anything yet, said Babchuk, 27. So I keep practising, keep myself in good shape. If I have a chance, I should be ready. I will try to do my best. Asked to evaluate his performance so far two games, plus-one, zero shots Babchuk declined. I don t want to discuss that, he said. The coach, he makes the decision on the lineup. If he took me out, he made the decision to take me out. If he football result wants to put me back out, it s his decision. If I play, I play. If not, I practise hard. Sutter said he wants to see more of a structured game from Babchuk, starting a two-year contract that pays him a $2.5 million salary. There s responsibilities, said the skipper. You have to play within a team game the guys all know that and they understand it. And that s why, for the last two-plus games, we football result ve played a lot better as a team #8230; our team game is a lot better. Babs just need to settle in on that and just be a good player for us, but within the limits of how we want to play. And he s got a heavy shot. We want him to use it. We need him shooting the puck. That s why he was successful last year every chance he got, he hammered it. Hagman ready if Glencross is outCurtis Glencross(not football result es) did not participate in Tuesday s practice. This, after having left the ice early in Monday s session.All Sutter would concede is that the left-winger is considered day to day with lower-body soreness. Niklas Hagman(notes), a scratch Saturday against the visiting Nashville Predators, took Glencross s spot on the left side of the OMG line. Meaning the Finnish winger is an option tonight. You sa football result w where he was (in practice), said Sutter. You make decisions on a daily basis, depending on who s healthy and who isn t, who can practise and who can t, who can play and who can t. And this was (Tuesday s) practice because Glennie couldn t skate. C-NOTES: Farmhand C Paul Byron(notes), currently with the AHL Abbotsford Heat, has been suspended for three games after a boarding incident Friday aga football result inst Milwaukee #8230; At 29.2 per cent, the Avs boast the No. 2 power play in the NHL only Washington s is more dangerous. The Flames, at 16.0, sit 15th #8230; Colorado is third in faceoffs, while Calgary, getting a boost from C Brendan Morrison(notes) (and a recent surge from C Matt Stajan(notes)), is now 25th #8230; The Flames are second in the league in giveaways with three players (D Ma football result rk Giordano(notes), D Chris Butler(notes), LW Curtis Glencross) in the top nine. Only Edmonton is sloppier. And the Avs, led by the league s second-best thief, C Ryan O Reilly, are fourth in take-aways #8230; Colorado D Ryan Wilson(notes), a former member of the Flames, is 10th overall with a plus-five rating. Play Fantasy Hockey, now with Pro Leagues! Updated 3 hours, 18 minutes ago football result
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