Flames’ bye week comes with mixed feelings
Some are headed to Mexico for the sun.
A few were off to California to relax.
A couple were planning on a quick trip to Banff to do the tourist thing. As for Glen Gulutzan? “Scorekeeping volleyball,” said the Calgary Flames head coach with a chuckle. “Or learning how to, anyway, for both of my older daughters. I don’t understand that sport. Volleyball is pretty complicated.”
At this point in the 201617 NHL season, Gulutzan will take the extra family time when he can.
The Flames’ NHL Players’ Association-mandated “bye” week started officially at midnight Tuesday or shortly after their plane touched down in Calgary following a three-game road trip that was capped off with a 3-2 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Calgary’s five-day hiatus comes only 10 days after the NHL all-star break ended.
What gives, you ask? Why do these guys get another vacation?
It was an initiative negotiated between the NHL and the NHLPA, giving teams some mid-season time off between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28 to allow for rest and recovery amid a condensed 82-game NHL calendar due to the World Cup of Hockey. Players do not have to report for practice until after 4 p.m. on the fifth day and the Flames’ first ice time back is Sunday at 4 p.m. at Winsport.
Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing to abruptly break after a string of solid play?
The Flames have mixed feelings.
“For us, personally, we’ve got some bumps and bruises,” said Flames assistant general manager Craig Conroy. “It’s nice. You want the guys to go take care of themselves for the five days. They know how important it is.
“That’s what we stressed — it’s nice to get away, we’ve gotta take care of ourselves because we have to make a huge push to try and make these playoffs.”
Since Calgary’s fourgame losing streak ended prior to the all-star break — an exciting 3-2 win in Ottawa Jan. 26 — the Flames own a 4-1-0 record and captured some victories against heavyweight opponents. That’s the other side of having another break this week and weekend.
Every point matters for the Flames (28-25-3) as they sit with the St. Louis Blues (27-22-5) for the last two wild-card playoff spots in the Western Conference. When the Flames return to action, the Blues will have played games Thursday (at Toronto) and Saturday (at Montreal), while the Los Angeles Kings (27-23-4) play the Florida Panthers on Thursday. A win could sneak the Kings ahead of the Flames.
“Ideally, I wish the break came a week later or maybe at the end of February,” Gulutzan said. “March always seems to be a better month; guys are ready for the final push. But I do think it comes at a good time for our group. It lets us have 26 games less, that’s not a ton when these guys are fresh.”