[Machiavelli]

Had to get this up quick; want more non-Gaudreau discussion today

Former Blues Brouwer, Elliott lead Flames over Canucks

"I've talked to (Mark Giordano) and I've talked to a couple other guys and they say how calming and easy it is to play in front of him already, even though it's been two pre-season games," Brouwer said.

Gulutzan says stable goaltending enables the players to play more relaxed. Calgary's goaltending was worst in the league last year.

"It lets everybody play with a little less tension. You're not afraid if you have one little bobble or turnover, that it's going to end up in your net," said the coach.

Trio Shine In Flames' 2-1 Win Over Canucks

Troy Brouwer had a goal and an assist, Sam Bennett had two assists and 18-year-old Matthew Tkachuk scored his first goal for the Flames (2-2-0). Guillaume Brisebois scored for the Canucks (1-1-1).

"We're learning each other," Brouwer said. "The good thing is we've started camp together from Day One. We've had lots of good conversations. [Tkachuk] was beside me in the room. They've moved him around after a couple of shift changes here. I think the three of us work well together. There's a lot of pedigree from each guy that fits well together. It's just been a pretty smooth transition so far."

"That's where the goals are scored," said Tkachuk, who scored 30 goals with London of the Ontario Hockey League last season. "It's a little bit tougher in this league than in junior. You've got some of those D out there that are 6-4, 6-5, 220, that are pushing you out of the way. It's tough but you have to keep battling. I know what my strengths are and I know what I need to provide to this team to help win."

Ferland Demonstrates Unity In Flames Win

"Oh, when Ferly came back to the bench after serving (the five minutes),'' confessed Tkachuk. "That just shows what kind of teammate he is. Shows that we're in this together. I told him I owed him one."

In short order, though, Tkachuk returned to the fray.

"I just got hit,'' he explained later, "and they wanted to check me out.

"I'm fine."

"We've talked about being together, playing together, sticking together, five guys,'' said Gulutzan at his post-game media availability. "A pack mentality. Ferly exemplified that today.

"And after the second period, I talked to the guys about it; made mention of what Ferly did, and I thought we had a way better third."

Plenty Of Positives In New Flames Goaltenders

"Both,'' says Sigalet admiringly, "are great pros, on and off the ice. You don't have to be around them long to realize that.

"It's going to be fun watching them push each other.

"Very technically sound. It's their compete and positioning that are, in my mind, really going to help this team out.

"You can't teach compete. You either have it or you don't.

"These two guys, they don't give up on a puck. And they hate giving up a goal.

"Some guys aren't happy about it but these two absolutely HATE it.

"And that's exactly what you want to see."

Flames goalie prospect Tyler Parsons rewarded with pre-season audition

“As a kid, I would be watching Elliott on TV,” Parsons said. “To be skating on the same ice as him now, it’s awesome … If you watch those guys, they just look so relaxed and they make it look so easy. And I think that comes with experience, too. These guys have been in the league for a while, they work hard every day and they learn their game after all those years. And they look really good in net.

“So it’s definitely been awesome being on the ice with them. They make me work, for sure. It’s something to work towards.”

Gulutzan grabs players' attention while adjusting to Flames' hot seat

After four years of Hartley, this is a tough transition. And Treliving hired a gentle soul to undertake it.

“There’s always this, sometimes negative, connotation about a ‘players’ coach — whatever that means,” Treliving said Friday afternoon. “In today’s game, you do have to communicate. But that shouldn’t be lost as being soft. Players need to be pushed. Glen said it best: You build a relationship and trust with players, and that allows you to take a deposit out of the bank account when you need to push.”

Gulutzan said: “When you’re the assistant, it’s a different job. I got used to it over the three years in Vancouver and I enjoyed it. But as a head guy, you have a different role. It doesn’t change the person you are. I’m never really mad at the guys. I was forceful today, but I want them to be great.”