[MissTeeks]

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=740128

Ferland Returns:

After missing eight games with a concussion, Michael Ferland is ready to get back into the lineup.
"I've been working hard here the last couple of weeks and I'm just really excited and anxious to get back out there," he smiled.
The 22-year-old suffered a concussion in his NHL debut, getting hit by Nashville's Anton Volchenkov on Oct. 31. Volchenkov was suspended four games for the illegal check to the head.
"It sucked, my first game and getting hurt. I'm a strong believer in everything happens for a reason and I'm just happy I'm still here right now and getting the opportunity I am tonight.
"I'm really anxious to get out there."

"Just bring your game. Obviously it was not the greatest setup for your first NHL game to leave with a concussion, but that's the game. He's trained hard, we worked a lot on his skating and his pace. He understands that part of the game.
"We're playing a high-tempo game and we want out guys to be skating. We want to be imposing. We want to play our rhythm -- we never want to respond to the other team, we want to play our game."

Ferland is expected to skate on a line with Paul Byron and Josh Jooris this evening, something he is looking forward to.
"Go out there and use my body. Be physical, move my feet, move pucks quick. I'm playing with Jooris and Byron tonight, they're both fast skaters so I've got to try to keep up with them. Make room for them."

Russell, Jones Out

"They're improving but with their injuries we're not going to take any chances," Hartley explained. "We're going to do what is best for them. They are two big parts of our lineup. We'd love to have them in but at the same time it opens doors for other guys added responsibilities and that's our approach. We'll take care of them.
"They're close but they're not good enough."

Different Game, Different Team

Mark Giordano feels his team has made big strides since that point and will bring an entirely different game tonight.
"At the start of the year, I think our goalies won a bunch of games for us early on. We weren't very good and we know that. But we've turned it around. Our team game came around and it seems like on different nights, different guys are stepping up.
"Our team game as a whole has been a lot better and we're getting to where we want to be. It's still early but we're definitely in a good spot right now."
Like Tuesday's game against the Anaheim Ducks, the Flames view this match-up as a measuring stick to see where they are at in the Western Conference.
"Chicago's, in our minds, one of the best teams in the League. It's another great test for us," Giordano stated.
"We have to have a lot better effort than [the last game against Chicago.] But we feel our game has come a long way since then too."

Quotable

"That's my goal for tonight: go out there and get a few licks on some guys, try to get into it early." - Michael Ferland on getting back into game action this evening