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 Sports 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 Sports Sun.
More Information(Photo credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports) The New York Islanders acquired veteran defenseman Robert Bortuzzo from the St. Louis Blues ...
(Photo credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports) Jayden Daniels played three seasons at Arizona State and nobody anywhere was viewing him ...
(Photo credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports) LeBron James has been a superstar for two decades while Tyrese Haliburton is a ...
(Photo credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports) After taking down Dallas in the 2023 Western Conference final, the Vegas Golden Knights ...
(Photo credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports) The Buffalo Bills are fining defensive end Shaq Lawson an undisclosed amount for his ...
(Photo credit: Steven Erler-USA TODAY Sports) Washington hasn't had much recent success against No. 7 Gonzaga. The Huskies lead the ...
(Photo credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports) Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert is off the injury report and ready to ...
(Photo credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports) Jayden Daniels played three seasons at Arizona State and nobody anywhere was viewing him ...
(Photo credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports) The Buffalo Bills are fining defensive end Shaq Lawson an undisclosed amount for his ...
(Photo credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports) The Los Angeles Rams appear ready to stay the course at kicker on Sunday ...
(Photo credit: Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK) Tight end Joe Royer is the latest Ohio State player to ...
(Photo credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports) Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco has been ruled out for Sunday's game ...