[News Roundup] Flames Stories over the past few days

[Heavy Jack]

Lazar taking after Backlund:

by AARON VICKERS @AAVickers / calgaryflames.com

Thirteen-year-old Curtis Lazar used to keenly watch 19-year-old Mikael Backlund take twirls on the ice at Prospera Place as a member, albeit briefly, of the Kelowna Rockets.

Some eight years later, Lazar is fixed on Backlund again.

Because the now 27-year-old can be the model for the now 22-year-old.

.............................

Backlund appreciated the trip down memory lane to his days with the Rockets.

Even if it made him feel a little old.

"A little bit, yeah, " shrugged Backlund, who turns 28 in nine days.

"He told me that pretty much right away. I didn't know that.

"He was like 13. I would've been 19. It's a few years apart from us.

"He seems to be a good guy and it's a pretty good story."

Flames Prep for final stretch:

by AARON VICKERS @AAVickers / calgaryflames.com

The season is a marathon.

But the final 16 games are going to feel more like a sprint to the Flames.

They sit comfortably in the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference, will play every second day from here on out.

Game day. Off. Game day. Off.

All for the final 31 days of the regular season.

"I think it's a good thing," forward Michael Frolik said. "You can get your rhythm. We'll see what we're going to do, whether we're going to practice the day before or no morning skate … we'll see how it's going to go. I don't mind playing every other day. It keeps you in the rhythm.

"I don't mind it at all to have a day between and keep playing the games. I think it's good. You just try to work on what you need. You do what you need to do to be ready for the games.

"Hopefully it's good for us. I think the schedule is pretty good. It seems like playing in the playoffs. Could be good preparation for that, hopefully."

On the verge of history:

by GEORGE JOHNSON @GJohnsonFlames / calgaryflames.com

Thursday, they go in search of a little slice of history.

Blocking their way, an organization that's put a virtual trademark on the stuff.

Makes perfect sense, then, that Montreal Canadiens, who wear their resplendent past glories like bleu, blanc et rouge papal robes, are in town for their annual visit as the Calgary Flames aim to nail down an eighth win in a row.

History, after all, being their stock-in-trade.

If accomplished Thursday night (7 p.m., SNWEST SN960 THE FAN), eight in a row would equal a Calgary-based organization record heading into Winnipeg for a Saturday night/Hockey Night date at the MTS Centre and an opportunity to stand alone.

"Really?'' says captain Mark Giordano, taken slightly aback. "You sure? Yeah?

"Well, that's a good stat. A cool stat.

"Any time you can make or share some history with a franchise that's been around for, what, 37 years isn't it?, that's something to shoot for.

Ferland and the top line:

by TY PILSON @typilson / calgaryflames.com

He has scored three goals and six points and is plus-6 in the club's last four games, including lighting the lamp once in the 5-3 matinee victory over the visiting New York Islanders Sunday.

Life is good right now for Ferland, who's making the most of his opportunity to skate alongside two of the best young players in the league during the Flames' impressive playoff push.

"I'm having a lot of fun playing with Johnny and Mony," said Ferland after Tuesday's practice. "Most importantly, I think, we just have to keep having fun playing together. I've said before they're both great players and they make the game more simple. You just have to try and stay out of Johnny's way when he's coming up with the puck.

"(I'm trying to be) hard on the forecheck, being the first in and trying to create room for both of them."

Fun isn't a word you hear in pro sports often enough.

However, with the Flames riding a seven-game win streak and his line clicking on all cylinders the game right now, to boil it down, is simply fun.

Flames TV

Spoiler!

Frolik after practice:

Gulutzan on practice/final stretch

Backlund after practice:

Flames players and cheesy jokes LOL:


Teaser -- Versteeg: What do you call a sunburnt Stajan?? 'Cajun Stajan'

[GoJetsGo]

Thanks for that.

Great to hear Lazar is looking up to Backs. Could be a great thing for him moving forward.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

5-2 win against the Isles? How do they get that wrong?

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

Thanks for that.

Great to hear Lazar is looking up to Backs. Could be a great thing for him moving forward.

This is what I thought as well. Both drafted at similar spots, both struggled finding what their role/game was early on as well so I think Backs is going to be able to help Lazar adjust that much easier. There's no rush here, patience is the biggest key and I think Curtis understands that fully and it only helps that he can lean on a guy like Backs who has been there and done that when it comes to not meeting early expectations.

[Gaudfather]

Between radio hits and print articles, I have seen more media about the Flames in the past seven days than the prior seven months combined. Clearly the hockey world is taking notice.

[EVERLAST]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/f...bviously-no-1/

More

[Yrebmi]

Stajan and Bennett seem like good friends.
Great to see bits like that.

[djsFlames]

Hahahaha TJ Grosski.

[shadowlord]

Geez, so many stories, almost enough to make an Oilers fan jealous that they're not talking more about McDavid.

[AC]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Hahahaha TJ Grosski.

I was expecting TJ B.O.die

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/f...bviously-no-1/

More

Would love to see him re-sign, but the dollars and term will have to make sense. Really glad to hear he's enjoying himself in Calgary though, bodes well for future free agents when they hear that sort of thing.

[GoJetsGo]

That was awful yet hilarious trying to watch Tkachuk not laugh at the TP / crack joke.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

[CRXguy]

"How hairy is Giordano?"

LOL

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by shadowlord

Geez, so many stories, almost enough to make an Oilers fan jealous that they're not talking more about McDavid.

Way to do exactly what it is you're complaining about.

[jg13]

TSN pulled a Sportsnet.

[bob-loblaw]

Brouwer is built like a brick outhouse.

[CsInMyBlood]

After watching the jokes I came away with liking Versteeg and Brouwer more. You can tell they would be great guys to have in the dressing room. If only we can activate Brouwer beast mode. Maybe that is reserved for the playoffs. Some guys have that extra playoff gear.

Let's hope we get to see it.