Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk left practice early Tuesday with an undisclosed injury and is questionable to play against the Boston Bruins at Cadillac Arena in Beijing on Wednesday (7:30 a.m. ET; NBCSN, SN) in the second of the two preseason games in the 2018 O.R.G. NHL China Games.
"I don't think it's anything serious, but we'll wait and see how it reacts overnight and in the morning," Flames coach Bill Peters said. "We're going to skate and it'll give him an opportunity to skate on it if it reacts favorably. We'll know a lot more after our skate tomorrow."
[Game-used Pucks from the 2018 NHL China Games available on NHL Auctions]
Peters hinted forward James Neal, who was expected to be scratched Wednesday, might play if Tkachuk is not able to go. Peters said Neal could get time at right wing on the top line with left wing Johnny Gaudreau and center Sean Monahan if he plays.
Elias Lindholm has been the right wing on that line so far here.
"We're not set in stone who that right winger is going to be, but I thought that line was dangerous the other night," Peters said. "I thought all three had good looks."
Goaltender Mike Smith will make his first start of the preseason for the Flames. He didn't dress in Calgary's 4-3 shootout loss against Boston in Shenzhen on Saturday.
Peters also said the skaters who didn't play in Shenzhen will play Wednesday. That group includes defensemen Dalton Prout and Rasmus Andersson, and forwards Anthony Peluso, Curtis Lazar and
Morgan Klimchuk
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-- Dan Rosen
