BUFFALO http://www.redwingsshoponline.com/authentic-jimmy-howard-jersey , N.Y. (AP) With the Flames slipping out of playoff contention, goalie Mike Smith would prefer nothing more than to be back in net for Calgary’s next game, at Buffalo.Knowing that’s not in the cards, Smith settled on accepting the next step in recovering from a lower body injury by practicing with the Flames for the first time in nearly a month on Tuesday.”It’s the worst feeling as a guy who wants to be in there every game and wants to help the team win,” Smith said after taking part in an optional practice a day before Calgary plays the Sabres.”A piece of you feels like you’re letting the team down by sitting there and watching,” he added. ”That’s the sucky part of the position and the sport. But that’s part of the deal. So you’ve got to deal with it.”Though still experiencing some soreness, Smith was encouraged following the half-hour session while saying it’s premature to determine how much more time he’ll miss.”I’d like to tell you that, but your guess is as good as mine. I think it’s just day by day,” he said. ”I’m trying to improve every day, strengthen, get comfortable, and when I’m ready I’ll know.”Smith has been out since being hurt in the final seconds of a 3-2 win at the New York Islanders on Feb. 11.After spending much of the past week skating on his own, Smith at least felt healthy enough to travel from Calgary to rejoin the Flames, who are in the midst of a three-game road swing that closes at Ottawa on Thursday.The Flames could use any type of boost after having gone 0-3-1 in their past four following a 4-3 overtime loss at Pittsburgh on Monday. And they’re 3-6-2 while allowing 40 goals in 11 games since Smith was hurt.In that time, Calgary has gone from sitting third in the Pacific Division to 11th in the tightly contested Western Conference playoff picture. With 15 games left, the Flames entered Tuesday with 74 points, three behind the eighth-place Los Angeles Kings.”There’s still time left and games left,” Smith said. ”I think we’re a good team. It’s time now to put all the chips in, and we need every guy working on all cylinders here.”With a 23-16-6 record, Smith has provided the Flames much-needed stability in net after being acquired in a trade with Arizona in June. His 2.53 goals-against average ranks 12th and 0.921 save percentage is ninth among goalies with 30 or more games played.Without the 12-year veteran, the Flames are leaning on a rookie tandem of Jon Gillies and David Rittich, who have combined to appear in 25 career NHL games.Gillies is 2-2-1 in six games, including a 35-save outing in a 5-2 win at Arizona on Feb. 22. Rittich is 1-4-1, and allowed seven goals on 26 shots in a 7-3 loss at Vegas on Feb. 21.Coach Glen Gulutzan defended his goalies by saying the team has to play better as a whole. And yet, he acknowledged how much of a difference Smith can make both in stopping shots and being one of the league’s best puck-handling goalies.”There’s no scapegoat on goaltending here,” Gulutzan said. ”We’re still fighting. And if we get him back, I think it’s great. It helps you win when you get an elite guy back.”— OTTAWA — To no one’s surprise, Craig Anderson will be back in goal for the Ottawa Senators when they entertain the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night.Somewhat perplexing is that he left in the first place.The 37-year old Anderson helped the Senators to a point in their season-opening overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, then made 34 saves as the Senators stole two from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 5-3 victory a couple of nights later.Article continues below ...Thinking he had to get his backup some action, coach Guy Boucher gave the Monday afternoon start in Boston to Mike Condon Jonathan Ericsson Jersey , who grew up in nearby Holliston, Mass., and cheered for the beloved Bruins. The move backfired, however, as Condon was shaky in a 6-3 loss during which he made only 24 saves.Sharing as much of the blame was the Senators’ defense, a major area of concern after the trading of Erik Karlsson in the offseason. Boucher identifies Cody Ceci as his one “shutdown” blue liner, and he is a team-worst minus-4 on the season after being tagged with a minus-2 versus the Bruins.Not being able to have the last line hurt the Senators as Boston’s top line of David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand combined for 11 points (five goals). The Senators will face another potent unit versus Philadelphia, which is led by the Claude Giroux–Sean Couturier-Jake Voracek line.“Every team has got a top line you’ve got to be careful of,” Ceci said after Tuesday’s practice. “They are a little different style. They’re maybe not as run-and-gun as the Boston line, but they’re all really smart players that are good with the puck. Voracek is a big guy. They’re definitely a line you’ve got to respect.”While the Senators are off to a 1-1-1 start, the Flyers are 1-2-0 and will be smarting when they arrive in Ottawa, fresh off a home-opening, 8-2 pummelling at the hands of the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.Brian Elliott, a former Senator, gave up all eight goals while making 40 saves.“We (stunk). I feel so (bleeping) bad for (Elliott),” said defenseman Shayne Gotisbehere, per phillynews.com. “We left him hung out to dry. I mean, it’s a little ridiculous.”The Flyers, who hadn’t allowed eight goals in a game since 2011, were down 4-0 after the first period.“I just think we played like (crap) tonight,” said captain Claude Giroux, per NHL.com. “The score shows it. (Elliott) played a good game. He didn’t deserve that, and it’s on us.”Expected to make his Flyers debut in Ottawa is goalie Calvin Pickard, who was claimed off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs.Looking to score his first goal of the season on his former Colorado Avalanche teammate will be Matt Duchene, who co-led the Senators in goals last season with 23 but has only two assists to show for his efforts in 2018-19.“The first one’s always the hardest to get,” Duchene said. “Yeah, you get a little anxious. Maybe a little bit. But you know it’s going to come at some point, and for me it’s just getting that feeling of seeing it go in the net and then it just snow balls.”