Really good game day skate I thought this morning, a little more intensity then before.
Two actual bodychecks during drills, I liked that. First Wideman took Ferland out into the end boards. Not crushing blow, but harder than anything I have seen at morning skate this last week.
Later Reinhart tried to cut in front of the net during 3v2 part of the battle drill; he was met and dropped by Engelland.
First on the ice today was Glencross. Working on one timers, looked like he did have pain. Maybe the rib thing.
Hartley spent some one on one time with Hudler, and Granlund.
Gelinas spent a long time with Ferland. That led us to believe that he was in for sure.
There was not, as has been the case, any forwards wearing the green (you are sitting tonight) jerseys. At the end of practice though, Setoguchi and McGrattan stayed on for extra work, so we assumed they were drawing the short straws.
Both goalies looked unbeatable early in practice, so many players hitting posts also. I see that as a sign that the shooters believe they must be perfect to beat our guys in net! Byron finally broke the goose egg.
Best goals of the skate ( for me ) went to Bollig, Hudler, Bollig again and Reinhart. For a tough guy Bollig has a good shot, in my opinion.
Ferland looked good coming from down low to the front of the net for one timers.
Wideman, Hudler Engelland and Smid as usual most talkative out there.
Big crowd (relative) to watch today. Something to do with Chicago I suppose.
I will preface this by saying it likely has to do with his radio job, but Eric Francis is always the last media type to show up for the skate. Usually he arrives just as it is ending and most of the media has already gone downstairs. Again, I assume it has to do with his other job. Just thought it would be funny if he wrote about a Flames player in the morning skate; funny because he doesn't see it. He was nice enough to find a young kid to give a puck to.
Coach Hartley again was very kind to a couple young kids watching. Took time to talk to them.
Big thing we noticed this time out, was communication. Constant reinforcement on that. Also coaches stressing precision and being sharp.
Funny moment, just at the start of the PP drills. Gelinas was about to shoot the puck in, then stressed again, be sharp, SHARP! Then he fanned on the shoot in!
I watched the faceoffs completely today. Whata battle between Jooris, Monahan, Granlund and Reinhart. At first it was all Jooris, then Monahan took over for a while winning many in a row. Just as I was feeling sorry for Granlund he went on a tear. Just at the end reinhart won a few. I did not keep score but would guess that Jooris barely edged Monahan for first, Granlund not far behind in third.
Lastly, once again Giordano and Gaudreau faced off to start the battle/game simulation drill. If you remember last game Gaudreau beat Giordano, then scored. I was keen to see what happened today. It was Giordano this time, very eagerly taking the puck away. "Not today Johnny"
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