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Flames tab Talbot for Game 1 start vs. Jets

Icon Sportswire / Getty

The Calgary Flames turned to Cam Talbot to man the crease for the opening game of their qualifying-round series against the Winnipeg Jets.

The 33-year-old got the nod over David Rittich, who played more often during the regular season but didn't perform as well as his teammate.

Talbot went 12-10-1 with a .919 save percentage and a 3.84 GSAA at 5-on-5 in 26 appearances - 22 of which were starts.

Rittich, who'll turn 28 on August 19, went 24-17-6 with a .907 save percentage and a minus-3.75 goals saved above average at 5-on-5 in 48 games - all of which were starts.

Talbot has the edge in terms of postseason experience, having played in two postseason contests for the New York Rangers in 2013-14, and having started 13 playoff games for the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016-17 campaign. Rittich has never appeared in a Stanley Cup playoff game.

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