It is early in the Calgary Flames’ season-long six-game road swing, but coach Ryan Huska said he knows what must happen if his team hopes to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night and the remaining foes on a demanding trip.
“Yep, for sure,” Huska acknowledged when asked if the Flames would need a better effort over the next nine days than the one they got in a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.
In all, the eastward trek will feature five matches against current playoff clubs — a challenging trek for the Flames, who entered Wednesday’s play in the No. 2 wild-card spot, one point ahead of the Vancouver Canucks.
In the past two matches, the Pacific Division team has found scoring from players it does not rely on for offense in defenseman Joel Hanley and fourth-liners Kevin Rooney and Martin Pospisil.
Hanley’s fourth career goal Sunday turned out to be his first-ever game-winner in beating the Sharks. Rooney also tallied, while Pospisil scored his fourth to open Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over the Washington Capitals.
Hanley’s four markers have come in 222 NHL games.
The Keswick, Ontario, native did not play in 24 of the Flames’ first 30 games, but Huska said he kept putting in the work despite knowing he would see no ice time.
“Think about it: You come to the rink every day, you see your name’s not on the board (to play) and you know you’re going to get bag-skated again,” Huska said. “What he did was put himself into position when called upon. When he’s had his opportunity, I feel like he’s grabbed hold of it.
“He’s such an important piece to our back end (paired with MacKenzie Weegar). He’s kind of earned everything he’s getting right now.”
Jonathan Huberdeau leads the Flames with 22 goals. His 43 points are tied with Nazem Kadri for the team lead.
With 25 games left and long road trips out west a distant memory, the Lightning have figured out their game and are showcasing their best hockey.
Jon Cooper’s team will meet Calgary for the second time and will be bringing the confidence of a season-high six-game winning streak to downtown Tampa.
Tuesday’s marquee matchup with reigning Western Conference champion Edmonton was expected to be an explosive affair of elite individual talent, but the Lightning limited Leon Draisaitl (goal) and Connor McDavid (assist) in a one-sided 4-1 win over the flat Oilers.
The defensive side of the puck has stood out as the Lightning have reeled off the wins.
“Tonight’s game sticks out,” said Cooper, whose group outshot the Oilers 36-24 to hand them a season-worst fourth straight defeat. “We really defended well. We defended well in the two Ottawa games that started this streak. We played well enough in the other games, but I think goaltending helped us in the Detroit and Montreal games.
“We’re not giving up a slew of chances. When we do, it’s one and that’s it. The odd-man rushes aren’t there.”
Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (27-15-3, 2.26 GAA, .920 save percentage) is moving closer to his eighth consecutive 30-win season.
In the first matchup in Calgary on Dec. 12, the Lightning routed the Flames 8-3 as Jake Guentzel (27 goals, 28 assists) notched a hat trick for Tampa Bay.
–Field Level Media
