"We had an MRI [on Monday] and we got some really good news," Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said Tuesday after the morning skate at TD Garden. "Actually, it's not going to be as long or as bad as we thought."
Gulutzan said Smith will be considered day to day after the two games. The Flames visit the Nashville Predators on Thursday.
David Rittich (5-1-2 with a 2.20 GAA and .927 save percentage) will start for the Flames (29-19-8), who are 4-1-0 in their past five games and in third place in the Pacific Division, two points behind the second-place San Jose Sharks.
"It's tough, it's obviously a tough blow for a team to lose [Smith] for any amount of time," Flames defenseman Mark Giordano said. "But hopefully not too long, and then [Rittich's] been really good this year, come in and done a great job when he's gotten starts. Just got to play a solid game in front of him, keep trying to play that same mindset of team defense first and then create from that."
Rittich is 4-0-2 in eight games since a 7-5 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 2.
"I think I'm ready for it," Rittich said. "It's bad what happened to [Smith]. Everyone wants to have [Smith] back on our team because he's a huge part of our team, so I'm ready and I want to show my best and give the biggest chance for a win for our boys like when it's [Smith] in the net."
