Report: Flames may bench Gaudreau, Monahan, Bouma against Leafs tonight

Head coach Bob Hartley is not happy with his Calgary Flames.

After a lacklustre practice on Monday, it looks like the Flames coach may bench his two best forwards, Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, along with Lance Bouma.

Significant names may pay a price. Hearing Monahan, Gaudreau and Bouma may have a different view tonite. vs #Leafs https://t.co/5GPwf4agr5

— Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) February 9, 2016

Hartley appeared to pull his team off the ice early yesterday.

Here’s what Mark Spector of Sportsnet had to say about practice:

Veteran winger Lance Bouma, considered a true leader here, had enjoyed a particularly ineffective practice, and was sent of the ice after about 15 minutes. Hartley said afterwards, “He wasn’t feeling good, so we removed him from the ice.”

So that explains Bouma. What about Monahan?

Perhaps then, that’s why roommates Sean Monahan and Bouma were seen hustling into the Saddledome at 10:15 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. practice Monday. It just could be that Monahan lost track of time while brewing lemon tea and honey for Bouma. Or maybe it just took him a while to locate the Neti pot for his ill roomie.

And Gaudreau? Who knows.

What we do know is that the Flames have had a dreadful season on the ice, and Hartley isn’t likely to be too forgiving at a time like this. Calgary is 8 points back of Anaheim for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division.

They’ll play the Dion Phaneuf-less Toronto Maple Leafs tonight.