Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Bouncing back from fourth line
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Kuzmenko started Sunday's loss to the Oilers on the fourth line but eventually took shifts on the top line, Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun reports.
Kuzmenko, who posted seven points in the first eight games, had a strong start to the season, but he hit the skids last week and was benched for the final 27 minutes of last Friday's 3-0 loss to the Devils. In addition to opening on the fourth line Sunday, he was temporarily removed from the top power-play unit. However, Kuzmenko was one of the team's best forwards against Edmonton and was elevated to the top line alongside Nazem Kadri and Martin Pospisil midway through the second period. Calgary head coach Ryan Huska was pleased with Kuzmenko's effort Sunday and could reestablish the 28-year-old forward on the top line to start Tuesday's road game in Montreal.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Two helpers in Saturday's loss
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Kuzmenko picked up two assists in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Jets.
The 28-year-old winger set up game-tying goals in the second and third periods by Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri. but the Flames' offense dried up after Kadri's tally. Kuzmenko has had a strong start to the season, producing a goal and seven points in eight games as he looks to regain the form that saw him break out for 74 points (39 goals, 35 assists) as a rookie with the Canucks in 2022-23.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Nets power-play tally
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Kuzmenko scored a power-play goal on two shots in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Blackhawks.
Kuzmenko found his first goal of the year, and that second-period tally ended up being the game-winner. The talented winger has five points, six shots on net and a plus-1 rating across four appearances. He's been on the Flames' listed top line with Samuel Honzek and Nazem Kadri, but that trio has not been as productive as other forward groups. Kuzmenko has done the bulk of his work on the power play, where he's earned three of his five points.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Distributes three helpers in win
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Kuzmenko provided three assists in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Flyers.
Two of Kuzmenko's three assists came on the power play. The crafty winger has yet to score a goal through two games, but he's supplied four assists with three shots on net and a plus-2 rating. If he can find offensive success alongside Nazem Kadri, Kuzmenko should be a top-six fixture in 2024-25, though his questionable defense could lead to occasional drops in the lineup.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Manages helper in win
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Kuzmenko produced an assist and two shots on goal in Wednesday's 6-5 overtime win over the Canucks.
Kuzmenko helped out on a Rasmus Andersson tally in the second period. The 28-year-old Kuzmenko saw just 15:22 of ice time, which isn't encouraging considering the Flames were trailing for much of the contest. He began the game as the listed first-line right wing, though the forwards got shuffled after Kevin Rooney (undisclosed) left the contest. Kuzmenko put up 22 goals and 25 helpers over 72 contests between the Canucks and the Flames last year, but he can be a bit streaky on offense, which will lead to frustration for fantasy managers since the winger rarely adds much in the way of physical play.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Supplies assist Thursday
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Kuzmenko registered an assist and three shots on goal in Thursday's 5-1 win over the Sharks.
Kuzmenko was one of the Flames' top players in April with seven goals and six assists over nine contests. The 28-year-old winger had more points in 29 games with the Flames (25) than he had in 43 contests with the Canucks (21) prior to a midseason trade. He added 121 shots on net and a minus-9 rating this season. Kuzmenko's offense can be streaky, but he could be a top-six fit for the Flames heading into 2024-25.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Goal, assist in win
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Kuzmenko scored a goal on two shots and added a power-play assist in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Coyotes.
Kuzmenko continues to surge late in the season. He has seven multi-point efforts over the last nine contests, earning nine goals and seven assists -- including nine power-play points -- in that span. The winger is up to 24 points over 27 games as a Flame after he was limited to 21 points in 43 contests with the Canucks to begin the year.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Hat trick in Friday's win
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Kuzmenko scored three goals, including two on the power play, in Friday's 6-3 win over the Ducks.
Kuzmenko put the Flames ahead 3-0 in the second period and added a couple of insurance tallies in the third after the Ducks made a comeback push. This is Kuzmenko's second career hat trick, both of which have come at Anaheim's expense. He's surged late in the season with eight goals and six helpers over his last eight contests, giving him 21 tallies, 43 points, 114 shots on net and a minus-11 rating through 69 outings overall.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Extends point streak to six games
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Kuzmenko scored a goal on four shots and added an assist in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Sharks.
Kuzmenko's pair of points came on the power play, including the game-winning goal at 2:58 of overtime. This was his fifth multi-point effort during his six-game point streak. The 28-year-old winger has been streaky during his time with the Flames, but he's showing his upside in the later weeks of the season. Overall, he has 18 goals, 22 helpers, 108 shots on net and a minus-11 rating through 67 contests between Calgary and Vancouver this season.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Stays hot in loss
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Kuzmenko recorded two power-play assists and two PIM in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Oilers.
Kuzmenko has four multi-point efforts during his five-game point streak, a span that has seen him earn four goals and five helpers. The 28-year-old winger is surging late in the campaign, though he's been known to have streaky offense. For the season, he's at 38 points, 104 shots on net and a minus-10 rating over 66 appearances between the Flames and the Canucks.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Dishes pair of helpers
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Kuzmenko notched two assists in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Kings.
Kuzmenko set up Nazem Kadri on the power play and Martin Pospisil at even strength in the first period. The 28-year-old Kuzmenko remains streaky -- he has four points over his last two games, but he went six contests without a point prior to that. The winger is at 33 points, 97 shots on net and a minus-8 rating through 63 appearances between the Flames and the Canucks this season.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Two goals in defeat
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Kuzmenko tallied a pair of goals in Thursday's 5-3 loss to St. Louis.
Kuzmenko got the Flames on the board in the first period, forcing a turnover before beating Jordan Binnington with a wrister. Kuzmenko would add another goal late in the second, deflecting a Nazem Kadri shot to tie the game 3-3. Kuzmenko had gone six games without a point prior to Thursday despite maintaining a top-line role in Calgary. The 28-year-old Kuzmenko is up to 10 goals and 31 points across 62 games between the Flames and Canucks this season.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Ready to return Saturday
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Kuzmenko (upper body) is set to play Saturday versus Minnesota, according to Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
Kuzmenko missed Calgary's previous two contests. He has 13 goals and 29 points in 56 outings in 2023-24. Kuzmenko is projected to serve on the third line alongside Dryden Hunt and Yegor Sharangovich on Saturday. Walker Duehr is expected to be a healthy scratch due to Kuzmenko's return.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Remains out Thursday
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Kuzmenko (upper body) isn't available to play Thursday versus Vegas, per the NHL media site.
Kuzmenko has 13 goals and 29 points in 56 contests in 2023-24. This will be his second straight absence due to the injury. After Kuzmenko recovers, Walker Duehr might exit the lineup as a healthy scratch.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Practices Wednesday
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Kuzmenko (illness) participated in Wednesday's practice, but he didn't have his own spot in line rushes.
Kuzmenko instead alternated with Jakob Pelletier on the fourth line, which suggests Kuzmenko might not be quite ready to return. However, the Flames won't play again until Saturday versus Pittsburgh, so there is still time for the 28-year-old forward to get back to 100 percent before that contest. If Kuzmenko is available Saturday, then Pelletier might be a healthy scratch.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Practices Monday
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Kuzmenko (illness) took part in Monday's practice, according to Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
Kuzmenko was unavailable for Saturday's 6-3 win over Edmonton but could be an option to return Tuesday against the Kings. He worked on the top power-play unit despite skating as an extra during Monday's session, so there is also a possibility that he could be scratched for Tuesday's contest. Kuzmenko has 11 goals and 25 points in 51 games this season between Calgary and Vancouver.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Unavailable Saturday
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Kuzmenko won't play Saturday against Edmonton because of an illness, per Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
Kuzmenko has 11 goals and 25 points in 51 contests between Vancouver and Calgary in 2023-24. He will be replaced in Saturday's lineup by Jakob Pelletier (upper body), who will draw back in after a four-game absence.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Generates assist Thursday
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Kuzmenko posted an assist in Thursday's 3-2 overtime win over the Bruins.
Kuzmenko set up an Oliver Kylington tally in the first period. The positives faded later, as Kuzmenko had some shifts skipped and finished with 10:25 of ice time in the contest. The 28-year-old has seen mid-game demotions in each of the last two contests. He has four points over eight outings with the Flames, but the volatility in his ice time is a throwback to his time with the Canucks earlier in the season. Kuzmenko has 25 points, 76 shots on net and a minus-3 rating through 51 appearances in a disappointing second NHL campaign.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Two games, two goals for new team
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Kuzmenko scored a goal Thursday in a 5-3 win over the Devils.
Two games, two goals. The good is good, but the lows are low. Kuzmenko scored a great goal, but he also coughed up the puck at the point on an early, third-period power play, and the Devils scored on the ensuing shorthanded breakaway. Gulp. That kind of gaffe could affect his ice time at some point.
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Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko: Headlines return in Lindholm deal
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Kuzmenko, along with Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo, a 2024 first-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick, were traded from the Canucks to the Flames on Wednesday in exchange for Elias Lindholm.
Kuzmenko is the NHL-ready highlight of this trade. After struggling to 21 points over 43 contests this season and clashing styles with head coach Rick Tocchet, Kuzmenko will get a chance to prove himself with a new team. There's upside here -- he had 39 goals and 74 points in his first NHL campaign last year -- but the 27-year-old is likely best used in a role with minimal defensive responsibility. Kuzmenko should benefit from a steady spot in the Flames' lineup and could see power-play time with his new team.
