Ferland picks up where he left off against Canucks
The last time the Vancouver Canucks had the singularly joyless experience of running into Micheal Ferland (or more correctly being run into by Micheal Ferland), he was gleefully, methodically and with malice aforethought pounding them into playoff oblivion.
Friday, the bull showed the Canucks his artistic side. A quickrelease goal, a Downy-soft set of hands to send Sean Monahan in for another, and a 4-1 Calgary Flames victory on the front end of back-to-back home-and-away pre-season doubleheader.
(If Ferland's commanding performance wasn't enough to keep fans happy, they got their first look at 3-on-3 OT play afterwards, designed to acclimatize all teams to the concept prior to the regular season).
When Bob Hartley began training camp deploying Ferland on the right side of the MonahanJohnny Gaudreau line usually inhabited by mentor Jiri Hudler, it set tongues wagging.
Who would No. 79 be best suited to playing with? Well, the answer's in: Anybody. Ferland spent the first half of the evening collaborating with Sam Bennett and Michael Frolik, was switched back over to partner Gaudreau and Monahan and then flip-flopped again.
Either way, the mixing and matching worked a treat.
While truculence will still be his calling card, Ferland's skill level gives him the chance to be a double threat. A prime example, Calgary's fourth goal: A lovely pass from Ferland catching Monahan in stride to slot the puck short-side on Canucks relief goaltender Jacob Markstrom.
A good sampling of hopefuls auditioning for jobs — Drew Shore, Kenny Agostino, Garnet Hathaway and Patrick Sieloff — got another look from Hartley.
As well, winger Paul Byron made his first game appearance since a March 27 cameo after being hurt (“A full-body injury” is how Hartley memorably described the tip-to-toe litany of problems) Feb. 16 in Boston, and undergoing wrist surgery.
Canucks broke on top at 4:29 on an absolute missile launch off the stick off Calgary Hitmen ace Jake Virtanen, only strengthening his case to say west-coast way, the puck flying over Hiller's blocker and in, top corner.
Eleven minutes later, Flames answered back, Frolik’s shot from the left flank booted right back into the high slot by Bachman. An appreciative Sam Bennett, his GPS set for the front of the net, mopped up the leftovers.
The local Ice Adonises then assumed their first lead, exFlame Brandon Prust off seated in the penalty box for a highsticking offence when Canuck defenceman Frank Corrado inadvertently poked a centring pass into the path of Ferland.
The truculent winger wasted no time whipping a shot past Bachman, at 18:03. Turns out, he was only getting warmed up.
NOTES: Earlier Friday, the Flames assigned RWs Austin Carroll, Hunter Smith and Louick Marcotte, D Aaron Johnson, LW Ryan Lomberg, C Mitchell Heard and G Kent Simpson to the AHL Stockton Heat, released veteran D-man Douglas Murray and shipped G Nick Schneider back to WHL Medicine Hat … Jonas Hiller went the distance in net for Calgary, stopping 25 shots, after Joni Ortio pitched a shutout at the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night at the Pepsi Center … Monahan was dominant in the faceoff circle vs. the ‘Nucks, going 11-6 (65 per cent) over the opening 40 minutes ... The division rivals lock horns Saturday night at Rogers Arena.