Flames vow to ‘protect the puck’
Turnovers could prove fatal against Toronto’s freewheeling goal machine
Over the past few weeks, Calgary Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan has kept his line matching to a minimum, especially since being on the road for nearly two weeks.
But against the Toronto Maple Leafs — a high energy, fast-paced up and coming team that’s 7-2-1 in their last 10 games — it’s no doubt he’ll need to be mindful of at least the top two trios, one of which features Auston Matthews, the reigning rookie of the year, and Mitch Marner, who was Matthew Tkachuk’s linemate with the London Knights.
Instead of riding the shutdown line of Mikael Backlund, Tkachuk and Michael Frolik, the Flames have also been deploying their top line of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Micheal Ferland against other teams’ top players, on top of the expectation to produce.
“Monny, Johnny and Ferly have taken heavy matchups over the last 12 games,” Gulutzan said on Monday, after the team’s first practice since returning home from a 12day, six-game road trip.
“They’re playing against basically the first or second line from any team we’ve played. It makes it a lot easier from my perspective, when you’re not trying to get your guys away from people and you’re trying to play guys head-to-head. I think that’s how the league is going, and that’s what we need our top guys to do.”
The Flames return to the Saddledome after going 3-2-1 on the road and they’re focused on bringing home some of the things they did well on their trip — and improving on some of the things they didn’t. Particularly Saturday’s 3-2 win at Colorado.
“We’re coming off three games, in my opinion, (where there was) lots of skill coming at you in the same way,” Gulutzan said. “We were much better in the latter of the three games and we hope that carries over. We know how much they generate.
“They’ve got guys who can finish and can quick strike you. Our game plan (Monday) morning was taking some pieces of that last game and making sure they’re in our game against Toronto.”
The Maple Leafs make their only appearance at the Saddledome on Tuesday (7 p.m., Scotiabank Saddledome, TV: Sportsnet West, Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan). They’re first in the NHL with 87 goals scored.
They also have one of the busiest netminders in the 31-team loop in Frederik Andersen, who has faced 721 shots this season.
In other words, puck management is important.
“They’re a highly skilled team,” said forward Michael Frolik. “We just need to be careful with the puck and be responsible. Those good players wait for turnovers and bad plays and can turn it over the other way.
“We need to spend some time in their zone because they don’t really play defence. We just need to grind it and go behind the net and protect the puck.
“No turnovers or blind passes. We need to be hard on them because skilled players don’t want to be hit. You don’t want to give them much free space.”
Heading into Monday’s action, Toronto was sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 15-91 record. They’re 7-4-1 away from the Air Canada Centre.
News travels fast, especially from the centre of the universe, and the book on the Maple Leafs isn’t as unknown as the upstart young group was in 2016-17.
“They’re one of the best up and coming teams in the league right now, especially with the skill they have and how much they’ve come on in the last couple years,’’ said Flames’ goaltender Mike Smith. “It’s always a challenge coming back after a long road trip. That first game back always seems to be a challenge. It’ll be a good test for us.”
ICE CHIPS
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety suspended Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog four games following his cross-check on Flames left winger Matthew Tkachuk on Saturday night.
We just need to be careful with the puck and be responsible. Those good players wait for turnovers and bad plays and can turn it over the other way.