Leaders start stepping up for playoff push
Head coach says players’ intensity reflects sense of urgency as playoff pursuit heats up
Glen Gulutzan seemed impressed by the narrative, but was quick to dismiss it.
The Calgary Flames head coach doesn’t believe Mike Smith’s post-game critique of the club on Sunday was what helped prompt the netminder’s teammates to step up their game against the Oilers.
In fact, Gulutzan is convinced none of the players were aware of a Smith soliloquy that was widely credited for helping right the ship two days later.
“Guys don’t read that stuff,” said Gulutzan, playfully enjoying the ability to take the media down a peg.
“Unless guys go to a website to check out Smitty’s interview, I don’t know if guys like Smitty enough to say, ‘OK, I want to see Smitty talk for awhile.’ So, they don’t all hear that.”
That’s not to say the coach wasn’t impressed by Smith speaking out in front of the media.
Fact is, Gulutzan sees tremendous value in the vocal leadership guiding his team right now, more than ever.
Not just in the room, but during the game as well.
Gulutzan said the volume and growing list of players barking out on the bench these days shows him how intense things are getting this time of the year.
“There have been some squabbles, which is good, as it means guys are pushing each other on the bench,” said Gulutzan of the in-game information exchange.
“There’s some good emotion there. You know you’re in a good spot when your guys are buddies and going out to eat at night, yet on the bench they’re getting a little bit heated, saying, ‘You’ve got to change quicker,’ and stuff like that.
“You get that push from your top veteran guys, and that’s when your team is going to grow. When your players are the ones pulling and challenging and pushing, that’s good.
“We’re a real close group in there. We’re a close team.
“When they go out for dinner at night they’re dividing up into who wants seafood and who wants pasta. They’re not dividing into cliques.”
It’s not surprising to hear who is making their thoughts be known to the group.
“Matt Stajan has really become vocal here in the last little bit,” said Gulutzan of the 34-year-old who is four games away from playing his 1,000th NHL contest.
“Gio (captain Mark Giordano) has stepped up in that department, as has his game. I like that part of it. At this time of year experience becomes crucial. We’ve got guys who are experienced and who are stepping up.
“What Smitty did was just another example of a veteran guy who is stepping up and being competitive. We’ve got a lot of that. Those guys are all in it and passionate about it.”
Any surprises?
“Stewie has really come in,” said Gulutzan of deadline day waiver pick up Chris Stewart, who was playing goaltender in the dressing room Thursday as Troy Brouwer’s young son took shots on him.
“We heard just great things coming from Minnesota on him. Real positive, veteran voice on the bench and real good sense of humour. That’s been a refreshing positive.”
Nothing was more refreshing than getting back into the win column Tuesday, snapping a seven-game losing skid against Edmonton and staying on the fringe of the west’s playoff picture.
Despite the fact almost every team around them has more points and a game or two in hand, Gulutzan is convinced his Flames can control their own destiny.
“We certainly do — absolutely,” said Gulutzan, whose club hosts San Jose Friday.
“We play L.A., San Jose twice, Anaheim, so of course we do. We said all along it was going to come right down to the wire here.
“We’ve got it all right in front of us — we’ve got to do a job. It’s a good spot to be in.”
It’s certainly a far better spot than they were in before Smith’s Sunday sermon, coincidence or not.