Jets, Flames battle after bye week (Jan 20, 2018)
CALGARY, Alberta -- Although the Calgary Flames haven't played since last Sunday, captain Mark Giordano believes his team has what it takes to return to the ice with a bang.
The Flames (25-16-4) will host the Winnipeg Jets (26-13-7) at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday afternoon in a battle of two teams returning from their NHL-mandated bye weeks.
"The key (on Saturday) is the first couple shifts to get a bang -- get something in that'll get you right into the game," said Giordano after practicing with his teammates at the Saddledome on Friday afternoon. "I think after the first few shifts, we'll all feel a lot more comfortable."
Prior to their five-day break, the Flames had reeled off seven straight wins to climb into a playoff position in the highly competitive Western Conference.
"I think we have to remind ourselves a little bit ... that we're on a pretty good run here and a lot of guys are feeling really good and positive in here," Giordano said. "We've got to keep up that momentum. We've got to keep trying to grab as many points as we can to move up and really be in this huge playoff race that's going on right now."
During Calgary's seven-game winning streak, left winger Johnny Gaudreau has tallied two goals and added 11 assists.
"We've been just doing the little things the right way," said Gaudreau, who has found success playing on a line with center Sean Monahan and right winger Micheal Ferland. "When we're getting our chances, we're finding the net."
And Gaudreau sees no reason why that won't continue against the Jets.
"If we come back and play the way we did (before the break), I think we'll keep building success and keep growing as a team," he said. "Hopefully we'll get that chemistry going and keep building off that."
The Jets have been off since dropping a 4-1 road decision to the Minnesota Wild last Saturday, one night after losing 2-1 in Chicago to the Blackhawks. They practiced in Winnipeg on Friday morning before heading west to Calgary for Saturday's matinee.
"You saw everyone was on the ice 20-25 minutes before practice today just trying to touch the puck as much as they can and try to get the hands back," said center Bryan Little. "Usually once you get a good practice like that, it doesn't take too long to get back into the rhythm of things."
Teammate Blake Wheeler agreed with Little that Friday's practice was a good way to help the players get their legs underneath them.
"Just try to get moving, try to play as fast as we can -- that's the key," said the veteran right winger. "Any time you have a break, your mind doesn't want to go as fast as it needs to. You just have to get your legs underneath you, try to move the puck as fast as you can, try not to do too much, and hopefully you start feeling like yourself sooner than later."
Both teams made moves on Friday in advance of Saturday's game. While the Jets recalled goalie Michael Hutchinson and center Jack Roslovic from the AHL's Manitoba Moose, the Flames summoned left wingers Andrew Mangiapane and Marek Hrivik from their AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat.
