[News Roundup] April 11, 2017

[MissTeeks]

OLD NEWS: Flames struggles in Anaheim don't matter come playoff time

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/old-news/c-288667404

Watching EPSN's 30 For 30 documentary series in a SoCal hotel room during the Flames' final regular-season road swing, Craig Conroy happened on an instalment that particularly caught his eye.

"The show was on the Detroit Pistons, the second year they won the NBA Finals,'' recalls the team's assistant GM.
"For 15 years they hadn't beaten Seattle in Seattle. And this was what everyone was talking about. Those 15 years. When they asked (Pistons' centre) Bill Laimbeer about it, he said: 'I don't care. That doesn't mean anything to me. The series is 1-1 and we're going into Seattle.
"'So I don't care.'
"They went in there, into Seattle, won three straight and the championship.
"That's got our attitude going into Anaheim with what's happened there in the past:
"I don't care."

"I don't think about it,'' parried coach Glen Gulutzan. "I don't even know what (the streak) is.
"My history, I've won in the building. We're a different team than those teams were. Every year teams have different dynamics.
"We were focused on getting into the playoffs. We didn't care who we played. These guys are a top team. But you can't pick and choose your way. If you want something you can't design the easiest way to get there, you've got to go through things.
"We've talked about that all year. So I'm not worried about the building or the history. I'm worried about our team and how we're going to play.
"We're a confident group. We're a healthy group. We're not a tired group. We've got lots of juice. We've managed our rest well this year.
"And we're excited to get going."

"In the West, maybe Chicago pulled away a little at the end but in our division,'' reckons captain Mark Giordano, "it was pretty tight.
"That's why it's such battle to get in. The games are close, it's tough to make up ground or put any distance between you and the pack.
"Once you get in, really, everyone has a shot at taking it."

UNDERDOGS - WITH DOGGED DETERMINATION

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/unde...on/c-288667146

On paper, it might not be the best matchup for the Flames.
The numbers on a meeting with the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs isn't particularly flattering for the homeside.

Sure, the Ducks went 4-1 in five meetings against the Flames this season.
Yep, Anaheim has gone undefeated against Calgary at Honda Center for over a decade.
Uh-huh, the Ducks haven't been bested in regulation in the past 14 games (11-0-3) and are 9-0-1 at home in their past nine.
But the Flames aren't overly concerned at this stage.
"Certainly we're the underdog," coach Glen Gulutzan started. "There's no question.
"But you look at how we've played the last 50 games…we certainly have made a big improvement from Nov. 15 until now. I think our record is around fifth-best in the National Hockey League since then. I think we're a confident group.
"We're certainly the underdog but that's not always a bad spot to be in. We've got some things to prove.
"We've got some seeds to plant here. We're going to be prepared."

"This is why you play hockey," centre Sean Monahan said. "This is the fun time of year. A new season starts. We're looking forward to it.
"This is a great time of year.
"We have to raise our battle-level for sure and be ready to go as a team and stick to our game plan. We're a good team and we know that.
"We have to show that right from Game 1."

It's on themselves.
"We know it's a great team," general manager Brad Treliving said. "It's a deep team. They're playoff-tested…playoff battle-tested. We know what we're up against.
"But again, I come back to this time of year you focus on yourself. You know the opponent. You know what they do well. It's a great team. They're at the position they're at for a reason. But you have to focus in on your game and what you do well and execute. That's where the focus is. You spend too much time focusing on what's happening across the way, you lose focus on where it needs to be and that's on your game.
"That's where I think we're at. We know the opponent. We know how good they are. But we've got to focus in on our individual game, our collective game, and make sure we're bringing our best effort."

So what does the Calgary crew have to do to best the foe?
Flip the script?
End the curse?
"We just have to play our game," Monahan said. "Obviously everyone talks about that, losing in Anaheim, but we have to play our game and be on top of things and play together as a team. This is where you have to bear down and do all the little things well and stay on top of your game.
"We talked about that. We know what we have to do.
"We know what we're up against here. They're a good team. We're a good team. We're going to have to have our battle-level at the top and playing together here as a team."

FLAMES HEALTHY HEADING INTO PLAYOFFS

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/flam...fs/c-288666656

The infirmary is all but empty.
And the Flames are happy, healthy and ready to go.
Centre Sean Monahan and defenceman Dennis Wideman were both noticeably absent from Calgary's first post-season skate Monday, but both are tip top and ready go to heading into the Flames opening round series against the Anaheim Ducks.
"I'll get ahead of it … a couple guys weren't on the ice. Everything's okay there," general manager Brad Treliving said before being prompted about the whereabouts of his players. "They're fine, both Sean and Dennis. Just took a maintenance day today.
"They're all good to go.
"No issues there."

"Those guys are healthy," declared Glen Gulutzan, eliminating any notion that there might be more to their absences than just consecutive days off after closing out the regular season on Saturday.
"Today was a good maintenance day, something we wanted to get done, we had planned for weeks. We're healthy. We're completely healthy going into this. We have no hidden things.
"We're healthy.
"We're an excited group."

"Chad's doing well," Treliving said. "Chad actually skated before the group here today. He's come along. We're going to put him in the day-to-day category. But he's made real good progress.
"You're always a little more cautious with goaltenders with movements and what not, but we're expecting him to continue to progress and hopefully be ready sooner than later."

TRELIVING DEFENDS CAPTAIN

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/trel...in/c-288666642

Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray wasn't pleased.

Turns out Flames gm Brad Treliving isn't thrilled, either.

After the Ducks announced defenceman Cam Fowler would miss anywhere from two-to-six weeks with a sprained knee following a collision with Flames captain Mark Giordano, Murray voiced his displeasure.

It was Treliving's turn Monday.

"Obviously there was some comments after our last game," Treliving said. "You never want to see anybody injured. Cam Fowler is a terrific, elite player. You never want to see that. I want to make that very clear. You always want players to be healthy this time of the year.

"But for someone to suggest that Mark Giordano is a dirty player, that it was an intentional hit, obviously I think those are asinine comments and Mark Giordano is a true pro and we're going to go into the series not worrying about what's happened before.

"But I don't think making comments about opposing players … I think there's a method to the madness there is to try to put something in officials' heads going into the series. We're not focused on that. We're focused on making sure that we're prepared and we go out and play the best that we can play."

Giordano said the resulting injury to Fowler wasn't his intent.

"There is no intent to hurt him," Giordano detailed postgame. "I'm just trying to come across in a 2-1 game to try and stop him from getting to our net. I make a hit. The result…I don't know if our legs collided or not. I think they did.

"I hope it's nothing too serious."

Giordano echoed that sentiment Monday.

"I hope he's okay," said Giordano, who wasn't penalized for the hit and received no supplemental discipline on the play. "It was never my intent to injure a guy, but it's in the past. I think as a team and as an individual I'm just focusing on the series."

Giordano answered the bell following the hit last week, dropping the gloves with Ducks defenceman Josh Manson during a physical final frame that drew a combined 106 minutes in penalties.

"He's our captain," centre Sean Monahan said. "He's our captain for a reason. We're obviously going to have his back. He stepped up for himself there last game in Anaheim.

"Whatever happens as a team we're ready to go."

LOFTY PRAISE: Fleury thinks Tkachuk's game perfectly suited for what will be intense series with Ducks

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/loft...se/c-288664950

Each telltale rub. Every errant shove.
All those blessed scrums. The abrasiveness. Caustic yet cunning.
Count Theo Fleury a fan.

"Matthew Tkachuk," he's saying admiringly, "is a fun player to watch. We're in the entertainment business. He entertains.
"Every time he's on the ice, something happens. Good or bad, but never indifferent.
"You can't help but watch him. He's always involved.
"Do I see some of myself in him? No question. He knows how far to push things.
"All I know is not too many 19-year-olds come into the league and have an immediate impact. But he has.
"Smart, smart kid."
In short: he has a game built for immediate playoff impact?
"Absolutely.
"He played in London in that great (OHL) system, learned the right way. He's a winner. Those guys don't come along very often - Guys that know how to win.
"Playoffs are all about rising to the occasion. He understands that and how to do it.
"Once you have that blueprint for success, it never leaves you."

Calgary partisans can't wait to see what tricks Tkachuk has up his sleeve for post-season.
"Theo's right,'' says Flames' assistant GM Craig Conroy. "In the playoffs, you watch him. He has that mindset - the bigger stage, the brighter the lights, the more he wants to excel.
"Last year (at the Memorial Cup) he had the bad ankle and he still scores the winner. Okay, it wasn't the NHL. But it's still a hard trophy to win."
While admitting he can't wait to get this party started, Tkachuk understands the further step up in class this presents.
"I don't think you can compare that (Memorial Cup) to this,'' the kid argues. "This is so, so different.
"It's the NHL playoffs.
"It's unbelievable how much talk there is around the city, where I've been. People are just so proud of us, so excited for us.
"You can feel the energy of the guys in here. We want to do so well in playoffs. It'd do nothing but great things for us as players, as a team and as a city.
"I think the whole team's looking forward to it. We're playing a team that we just played a couple times and beat us a couple times so we want a little revenge here.
"Get a little payback, hopefully."

VETERAN PRESENCE: Cup winners Brouwer, Versteeg looked upon to provide guidance

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/loft...se/c-288664950

Under the bright lights of playoffs, the veterans often shine brightest.
All season long, NHL teams talk about the importance of having veterans helping lead the way and guiding the younger players towards a successful year.
Come playoff time, that multiplies tenfold.

Two veterans the Flames signed in the offseason for this very reason, bring not only the experience, but also a Stanley Cup ring.
As members of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, forwards Troy Brouwer and Kris Versteeg sipped from Lord Stanley's mug.
They'd like to do it again in Calgary.
"They've been through it and have had success," Flames GM Brad Treliving said. "They are both important parts to the team and it's not just the goals, assists and production. We're going to need both of them to be pulling hard on the rope for us."

"Experience doesn't matter unless you have some," Treliving said. "Being able to have players that have been through it is going to benefit us. You have them for this time of year when the chips are down."
And, although Brouwer's stats have seen a dip this season, his contributions don't come just on a scoresheet.
The 31-year-old has been able to guide those with little to no playoff experience as they begin this post-season journey.
"A lot of things that I was brought here to do, we've been able to do," Brouwer said. "Our team is in the playoffs. Whether my personal statistics are down a little bit, the team is in the position we hoped to be in at the start of the season."

Confidence is at a high and the team is dialled in for puck drop, to prove to everyone in the league that they're here for a reason.
"The whole ride is a lot of fun. This is the time of year you strive to be at but there is still a long road ahead," Brouwer said. "Playoffs is one thing, winning is another. Some guys don't get to do it a lot."

[MissTeeks]

Flames coach Gulutzan accepts underdog status

http://www.calgarysun.com/2017/04/10...nderdog-status

They’re underdogs.
Glen Gulutzan didn’t dispute that.
For the record, though, the Calgary Flames head coach wasn’t first to mention it.
He might accept the label, but it would be a stretch to say Gulutzan is relishing it or rushing to butter up the Anaheim Ducks as the faves in what should be a spirited first-round series.
“We’re the underdog, there’s no question,” Gulutzan nodded after briefly chewing on the question. “But look at how we’ve played the last 50 games ... We certainly have made a big improvement from Nov. 15 until now. I think our record is around fifth-best in the National Hockey League since then, so I think we’re a confident group.
“We are certainly the underdog, but that’s not always a bad spot to be in. We’ve got some things to prove, some seeds to plant here, and we’re going to be prepared.”

“We have expectations,” said veteran centre Matt Stajan. “We’re not just happy to be here.”
“If you go into games thinking that you’re going to win and there’s no chance you’re going to lose, then you’re going to be a dangerous hockey team,” added Flames alternate captain Troy Brouwer, who became an authority on post-season success when he sipped from the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2010.
“I said it when we were in Chicago my first year — we almost had that naive confidence, because none of us had really played in the playoffs. There’s more than just a naive confidence in here. It’s just a confidence that we’re a real good hockey team, we’ve been playing real well and we expect wins.”

Just like a lot of folks did in mid-November, when the Flames owned the NHL’s worst point percentage after a dreadful start.
“(The Ducks) finished higher in the standings, but I’ve liked the way we’ve played in the last three or four months,” Gulutzan said. “I like how we’ve come back out of our start. Yeah, we are the underdog, but I think this is going to be a heck of a series.”

Francis: Flames GM comes to defence of his star defenceman

http://www.calgarysun.com/2017/04/10...tar-defenceman

It’s the time of year everyone is fearful of inciting their opponents by saying anything that remotely resembles criticism, second-guessing or finger-pointing.
On Monday, Micheal Ferland deftly sidestepped questions about Kevin Bieksa and Mark Giordano opted not to revisit his hit on Cam Fowler that left the Anaheim Ducks defenceman injured, the opposition enraged and their GM full of accusations.
So, with others muzzled – and rightly so - Flames GM Brad Treliving felt it was incumbent on him to get something off his chest before Thursday’s playoff opener in Anaheim.
“The one thing I did want to mention is that there were some comments after the last game,” said Treliving of Bob Murray’s insinuation Giordano’s hit was intentional. “First of all, you never want to see anybody injured.
“Cam Fowler is a terrific, elite player. But for someone to suggest Mark Giordano is a dirty player and it was an intentional hit, obviously, I think those were asinine comments.
“Bob is a smart guy. But to suggest Mark Giordano is a dirty player and it was done intentionally, you’re either intoxicated or you’re trying to influence officials. There’s only two things.
“Mark Giordano is a true pro and we’re going to go into the series not worried about what has happened before. There is a method to the madness there, to try to put something in the officials’ heads going into the series, but we’re not focused on that. Bob should keep his comments to his team and we’ll worry about our team.”

Scolding an opposing GM is not exactly bulletin board material, but Treliving’s pointed words are telling of just how agitated he was by Murray’s tack.
“It bothered me, knowing who Mark Giordano is,” said Treliving. “Bob supports his players no different than I would do. But to publicly insinuate what he did was deliberate is wrong. It was incorrect. I haven't talked to Bob and I consider Bob and friend - he's a good manager who has built a hell of a team there, but I’m also going to support my player.”

He didn’t feel the need to answer anything else when it came to the controversy or repercussions surrounding it.
“I don’t want to go there – I just want to think about the series,” said Giordano Monday.
“For me it’s an exciting time and I haven’t played in the playoffs in a long time. The intent wasn’t there and I hope the guy is okay sooner rather than later. He’s a great player, so I’ll leave it at that. To get into a back and forth, I’d really rather not.”

Treliving insists he believes the slate gets “wiped clean” in the playoffs and that the officials won’t be swayed by Murray’s attempt to draw attention to the Flames captain.
“The officials go through this,” said Treliving.
“The best officials are working this time of year and I don’t think they’re going to be intimidated by comments.”
Nor is Treliving, and Monday he wanted that known.

Playoff run will be short if Flames can't halt skid in Anaheim

http://www.calgarysun.com/2017/04/10...kid-in-anaheim

Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, but if the Calgary Flames win the Stanley Cup this spring, it’s hard to imagine any of these guys wailing, ‘I’m going to Disneyland!’ during the celebrations.
Anaheim is hardly their dream destination.
Because just a few miles down the road from the world-famous theme park billed as ‘The Happiest Place on Earth’ is what could be ‘The Most Slanted Ice on the Planet’ — the Ducks’ home sheet at Honda Center.
It’s more been than a decade since the Flames’ franchise earned a road victory in Anaheim, a 27-game drought that dates back to the opening round of the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Even Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and the gang would grimace if they heard those stats.
“We’re not worried too much about, The Curse,” insisted Flames thumper Micheal Ferland after Monday’s practice at the Saddledome, their first official prep session for an opening-round series against those dastardly Ducks.

“If you can win one there, I think it can change the whole thing,” said Flames right-winger Michael Frolik. “(The Ducks) know the record and I think they want to play us because of that, a little bit.
“If you break that record, I think we can really build something and use it as an advantage.”

“Belief is No. 1. We have to go in there believing we can win,” stressed Flames captain Mark Giordano, with 19 losses at Honda Center on his own resume. “Listen, the streak and all that, it’s there. We’re going to have to deal with that.”
They’re going to be reminded of it, and not just by pesky reporters from both cities.
During the final minutes of a 3-1 loss last Tuesday at Honda Center, Ducks fans unleashed a loud-and-proud ‘You can’t win here!’ chant.
The volume will only be turned up for Thursday’s Game 1.
“We expect to hear some chants here and there. We expect the media to talk about it,” said Flames alternate captain Troy Brouwer. “But that’s something that we can’t dwell on. That’s something that we can’t let creep into our mind is doubt.”

“With what we did this year, we proved that we can beat anybody in this league, and anywhere,” said Frolik, one of many additions since that five-game ouster two springs back. “I think we have something special going on here, and I think this has to be the year (the streak ends). If you want to beat them, you have to win over there. It has to be this year.
“I think our confidence can be high. We don’t have to be scared or anything.”

[klikitiklik]

"A lot of things that I was brought here to do, we've been able to do," Brouwer said. "Our team is in the playoffs. Whether my personal statistics are down a little bit, the team is in the position we hoped to be in at the start of the season."

BS. He has been absolutely useless. A non factor. In fact he has made the players around him worse.

He better show us what he brings to this team during these playoffs. Otherwise cross your fingers that Vegas takes him.

[MissTeeks]

Here are a couple more:

Brian Elliott shakes off rough start to shine for Calgary Flames en route to NHL playoff berth

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...-playoff-berth

Perhaps, with those tiny ear holes on a goaltending mask, Brian Elliott could convince himself those were not cat-calls, that fans in his new hockey home were just warming up to his nickname.
Go ahead, sound it out.
‘Booooooooo.’
‘Mooooooooose.’
It doesn’t sound so, so different.
“That’s exactly it — they were always saying Moose,” quipped Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving, able to joke about it now thanks to Elliott’s ascent from early season scapegoat to crowd-pleaser at the Saddledome. “That’s why everybody should have a nickname like Moose or Lou.”

More and more and more, supporters at the Saddledome celebrate his saves with cries of ‘Mooooooooose.’
And no, those aren’t boos.
They don’t sound that similar.
“You always worry about that stuff. Especially at home, it can be a little tough,” Flames goaltending coach Jordan Sigalet said of the early-season criticism. “But we’ve had the conversations many times this year: ‘Just block out the noise. Whether it’s what you’re reading or what you’re hearing, just stick with the process and worry about your game and everything will take care of itself.’
“And him coming from college … If you’ve ever been to a college game, the atmosphere is unbelievable. You take a beating as a goalie. They’re ruthless, and that makes you mentally tough. He went through that and he won a national championship, so that just adds to his experience at the playoff level.”

BATTLE TESTED: Elliott knows a thing or two about facing adversity and winning in the playoffs

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/batt...ed/c-288675088

Kane. Toews. Hossa. Benn. Spezza. Sharp. Couture. Pavelski. Thornton.
Taken as a modern-day hockey-equivalent batting order, a Murderer's Row the equal of the '27 Yankees' lineup.
"You learn a lot from those series,'' Brian Elliott is saying a springtime later. "Especially against some pretty big dogs."
Big dogs, indeed.
Baskerville-sized Hounds.

To be here, in this position, back at the playoff party, steeling himself for the charge of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler and the big, brassy, bulldozing Anaheim Ducks.
"In playoffs,'' reminds Flames' assistant GM Craig Conroy, "you need two things: Great goaltending and timely scoring.
"Get those and you can go a long way.
"Els has been so good for us, so composed the second half of the season. Everyone has such trust in him, you can see it in their body language.
"In playoffs, you're counting on your goaltender to not only be good, to be consistent, but to maybe steal you a game here or there.
"If we go in there and take one of those first two …"

Recovering from a shaky opening, over the final half of the campaign Elliott could best be described as positively Kipper-esque, highlighted by an 11-game win streak, equalling a franchise record held by Mike Vernon that had stood for 28 years.
"He's been there and he's been there with expectations of big things coming out of St. Louis,'' says Flames' coach Glen Gulutzan. "He's performed under pressure.
"Those things are all important this time of the year, especially the first round. I was talking with Gelly (Martin Gelinas) and it's a jungle, the first round. It's intense.
"You need to stay composed and it's good to have a guy that's been through that."
That's your cue, Brian Elliott.

Ahead, Brian Elliott knows, some big dogs await.
"It's a whole different ballgame when you get into the playoffs. You learn by experience and some of our guys definitely have that, a couple with Cups. I've been through the wringer, too, winning 15 games in the playoffs.
"For the younger guys, it's kinda trial by fire here. You go through those ups and downs. No one's going to win 16 straight. There are gonna be times when you have to come back in a game or rally from a bad game. You might get your butt kicked but you have to come back from that.
"Every game-sheet starts fresh."

WHAT A 'MENACE': Flames hope to see Ferland dominate post-season again with hard-nosed, physical play

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/what...ce/c-288673468

He watched, albeit from a distance, as forward Micheal Ferland smashed, crashed and bullied his way into relevancy two springs ago.
Craig Conroy wants that same crash. That same smash.
And, with past performances in mind, the Flames assistant general manager has high expectations for the 6-foot-2, 208-lb. power winger when his squad opens the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.

"He was a menace," Conroy recalled of Ferland's efforts in a playoff-opening series win against the Vancouver Canucks in 2015.
"Really, he was probably the biggest reason we won the first round. I know it's hard to play the way he was playing, but he had Vancouver just beside themselves with what he did every night, and that was just being physical.
"Just physical.
"Hard. Every shift.
"I was in Europe at the time. My wife called. 'Micheal Ferland…now I know what you're talking about,' because I had said this guy was going to be a real good player for us. He's physical. He does this. He does that. She was like, 'I know what you're talking about now.'
"I want him to play exactly the way he did every shift and if he does that he's going to have a huge presence in this series."

"It was pretty special for him to come in and do that and make such an impact," said current linemate Sean Monahan. "I mean, it's the NHL playoffs and for him to come in and do that and be that kind of presence was pretty cool. That's the type of guy he is.
"We're going to expect that same thing.
"He was on top of his game then. When you're making big hits like that and generating offence from it and getting the puck, it definitely gives you energy. The next guys that go out, usually something good happens. He was a big spark for us.
"He's a key player for our team."

He was so effective in that series against us two years ago," said Flames coach Glen Gulutzan, who had a front row seat for Ferland's exploits as an assistant in Vancouver in 2015.
"I mean, he's certainly going to be a physical part of this series, too, but he's on a top line there. They're going to have to play good two-way hockey. They're going to have to chip in offensively. They're going to have to do a lot of things. The asks are across the board for all of our role players to have a job and Ferly will be the same.
"This isn't a Micheal Ferland series. I mean, this is far from it. This is a Calgary Flames series and everybody's got their role."

Just ask Conroy.
"I want him to do the same thing," he said.
"I want him to because what it does is throws everybody else off. If he can do that…and it's hard to do that…but if he can play that way, you'd love to see him play that way for four rounds.
"You don't know how long this is going to go. You have nothing to save it for. The season is over if you lose and you keep going if you win.
"For me personally, he's got to come out and play that game every night as hard as he can. There's nothing to save it for. This is what we play all year for. In this, every game matters more than anything and we're trying to win a Stanley Cup.
"I want him to play exactly the way he did every shift.
"If he does that he's going to have a huge presence in this series."

PS: All Craig Conroy quotes are massive

[redmile04]

[QUOTE=MissTeeks;6211714]OLD NEWS: Flames struggles in Anaheim don't matter come playoff time

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/old-news/c-288667404

I think Conroy is confusing Seattle with Portland but yes!!!!!!