Rookie notches first NHL point in first Saddledome appearance

Yes, the old man had a head start. Max Reinhart, on a fine play Wednesday, made a wee dent in it.

The Calgary Flames rookie centre set up Curtis Glencross — for his first point in the National Hockey League, during his first appearance at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Reinhart’s dad, Paul, collected 559 points during an 11-year career, nine of those winters with the Flames.

But it is Sonny’s time to shine now.

Only 21, Reinhart enjoyed a superb evening.

Orchestrating a goal in the first period.

Uncorking four shots — and drawing a hooking penalty on Ryan Kesler — in the second.

Unfortunately, for Reinhart and the Flames, the Vancouver Canucks spoiled things. Maxim Lapierre, Mason Raymond and Daniel Sedin rapped in third-period goals to lift the visitors to a 4-1 triumph.

“A couple breakdowns — a rebound goal, a power-play goal,” Reinhart said of the collapse. “I haven’t been here very long, but I thought we threw a lot of pucks at net and got traffic there. Looking at the shot clock, we got a lot more shots than them. I mean, that’s just how hockey goes sometimes.”

Those shots totalled 41 — and goalie Roberto Luongo blocked nearly all of them.

“This was important for me,” said Luongo, who got the start at the last-minute when first-stringer Cory Schneider was laid-low by illness. “I’ve been through a lot the last few weeks, so I really wanted to make sure I showed the guys I’m here for the rest of the year and I’m 100 per cent dedicated. I wanted to make sure they know that.

“I was nervous, which, go figure, after 12 years in the league you’re still nervous to play a game. Like I said, it was an important game for me. The boys battled hard and they got rewarded in the third with some goals.”

And while Luongo and the Canucks are fine tuning for what they hope is a significant playoff run, the Flames are focusing on the long-term future — of which Reinhart is a part.

Even now, though, the kid looks good.

With the (much-hated) Kootenay Ice, Reinhart had competed at the Saddledome numerous times before. This, however, was different.

“You know what? It’s not the same playing in this building as it was playing against the Hitmen,” said Reinhart, with a chuckle. “It’s a very good atmosphere. I enjoyed it. I tried to soak in every moment I could.”

The most memorable of those moments, of course, arrived in the first period.

Reinhart, from the end boards, flung a puck out front. Glencross, spinning, took a couple whacks at it before funnelling past Luongo at 16:17.

“I was just happy to get a point,” said Reinhart, a third-round pick from 2010. “It just takes a little bit of pressure off you. I was able to just settle down, knowing I got at least one point while I was up here. It relaxed me, gave me a sense of relief.” That was obvious. Because Reinhart enjoyed a stellar second period. Twice, with hard shots, he nearly bagged his first goal.

All of the local youngsters got workouts. Defenceman T.J. Brodie skated a game-high 26:00. Sven Baertschi played 17:23, Roman Horak 16:14, Reinhart 14:11.

As part of his busy night, the Vancouver native got to go head-to-head with Kesler.

“Oh, it’s tough,” said Reinhart, laughing. “I’ve watched all those guys play for a while. They’re just as good as they look. I’ve played all those guys in my first one (Saturday at Vancouver), so I got that sense of star-struck out of my system early. I think I was able to focus on just playing hockey.”

Reinhart went 3-for-11 on draws, something not lost on him. “Faceoffs,” he said, “it’s a whole different animal up here.

In the third period, Reinhart had been on the ice for two of the guests’ goals.

Asked what he’d do differently, he didn’t hesitate: “I wouldn’t have let Sedin behind me (on the power play). I mean, they’re good players. I’m still learning a lot. They take advantage of mistakes out there (which) I’ve learned the hard way over the last two or three games.”

C-NOTES: LW Steve Begin went down at the Canucks’ blueline in the first period. The Flames grinder left the game and did not return.