The Calgary Flames are relatively satisfied with the first few months of the season, but they hope to do a lot more to climb the ranks by the end of the regular season.
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Before welcoming the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, they clung with difficulty and misery to the last place giving access to the playoffs in the Western Conference. The good news is that head coach Darryl Sutter’s men had some success heading into the holiday break: on their recent trip to the American West, they amassed seven points out of a possible eight. , which bodes well for the return to action.
“It’s a goal we set ourselves at the start of the year. I think if you’re in the playoff portrait come Christmas, you’ve got a good foundation to build on. Being one or two points out of the playoffs doesn’t make a huge difference, but being in the top eight validates the quality of our work,” forward Blake Coleman told the Calgary Sun.
“And honestly, if we are in the playoffs despite the way we have played in recent months, it is very good, because we have much better to offer,” he added.
Huberdeau
Lately, the case of Jonathan Huberdeau has been mentioned a few times in the media, the Quebecer struggling to score goals. He claims just six in 2021-22 and Sutter has already admitted he wants to see him shoot more in certain game situations. However, the rest of the club will have to do more, in all facets of the game.
“I imagine that our position in the standings is positive, since we can do better. However, we have to see about it sooner rather than later,” said veteran Milan Lucic.
His teammate Nazem Kadri tries for his part to see the bright side of things.
“I think our record shows all our determination. We keep working and fighting, we don’t give up, he said. I’ve been in this league long enough to understand that teams really start to pick up their pace after Christmas or New Year’s Day.”
The Flames also face the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday and the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday to end 2022.
