Field Level Media
26 Jan 2023, 09:40 GMT+10
The way the Calgary Flames see it, they've turned a corner and are looking like the team they were supposed to be.
Calgary's home clash with the cellar-dwelling Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday is an opportunity to prove it.
The Flames, who have won two straight games, have often been guilty oflooking past underdog clubs, and a Blackhawks team at the bottom of the Western Conference is the kind of team they could be caught looking past.
Therefore, the Flames know they must continue to build on their last two outings, a convincing win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday and Monday's overtime victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
"Around this time of year, everyone starts to understand how we need to play and what our identity is," forward Nazem Kadri said. "It's midseason for a reason. You kind of have to fight the dog days of an 82-game schedule, but this is the time where you try to dial in the detail."
Despite requiring overtime to beat the Blue Jackets, the Flames were unquestionably the better side, proven by the shot-clock that read 49-25 in their favor.
The win came at a cost. Defenseman Chris Tanev is sidelined after suffering a shoulder injury. It's not the shoulder that required offseason surgery.
"If everything goes well, we'll get him back after the (All-Star) break," coach Darryl Sutter said. "If there's any blessing in having a long break, that's it, right?"
Whether the Flames have Jacob Markstrom or Dan Vladar in goal was not announced, but Vladar is on a personal roll. He has compiled a 9-0-3 record in his last 12 starts, one shy of the franchise record for most games without a regulation-time loss.
The Blackhawks arrive on the heels of a 5-2 loss in Vancouver to start their three-game road trip. The game was tied midway through the third period, despite Vancouver outshooting Chicago by a 48-14 margin when the final buzzer sounded.
"Just started slow and didn't seem to have our legs, and a little sloppy all over the ice," defenseman Seth Jones said. "If it wasn't for (goaltender Petr) Mrazek, it could have really got out of hand."
Being outshot with regularity is nothing new to the Blackhawks, but they have been held to fewer than 20 shots on goal in three consecutive outings. It is an issue they must address against a Calgary team is tied for the league lead in shots on goal and second-best in fewest shots surrendered.
"I think we just need a little more jam (collectively), to start maybe be a little more physical, get us into it that way," forward Sam Lafferty said. "And I think the shots will come from there."
After winning six of seven games, including a home clash with the Flames earlier this month amidst a dismal season, the Blackhawks have lost two straight outings. The Vancouver defeat came with an extra dose of disappointment, since the Blackhawks surprisingly held a pair of leads before the Canucks mounted a comeback and pulled away.
Chicago forward Luke Philp made his NHL debut in Vancouver, registering no shots on goal and one hit in 8:45 of action. Philp, who is from the city of Canmore -- a mountain-town an hour drive west of Calgary -- spent three years in the Flames organization.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of San Jose Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to San Jose Sun.
More InformationJoel Embiid poured in 33 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the visiting Philadelphia 76ers swamped the reeling San Antonio ...
Trae Young responded to not being named an All-Star by scoring 27 points and De'Andre Hunter added 26 points to ...
Cole Anthony came off the bench to lead seven Orlando scorers in double-figures with 20 points, and the Magic rode ...
Joel Embiid poured in 33 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the visiting Philadelphia 76ers swamped the reeling San Antonio ...
Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. caught fire in the middle two periods as the visiting Toronto Raptors rallied from ...
Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby joined forces to win the Breakaway Challenge at the ...
OSLO, Norway: Ending a three-year run of profits as stock and bond prices were hit by rising inflation and Russia's ...
NEW YORK, New York - Strong economic data failed to stem profit-taking on the major U.S. bourses on Friday, while ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The US has again asked Mexico to investigate claims that workers at an auto parts facility of American ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: Tesla confirmed this week that the US Justice Department has requested documents related to its Full Self-Driving and ...
TOKYO, Japan: Toyota has announced that it sold 10.5 million vehicles in 2022, maintaining its position as the world's top-selling ...
NEW YORK, New York - Technology stocks had a hay day Thursday with Facebook parent Meta rocketing up nearly 30 ...