SUSPENSION `A GOOD LESSON' FOR POSPISIL
Flames want forward to play with same edge — but he has to know where the line is
The Calgary Flames don't want Martin Pospisil to change his game.
Don't hit guys from behind, obviously, but head coach Ryan Huska doesn't want Pospisil to pull back from the aggressive, physical style that's made him such a valuable piece for the Flames this season.
There's a line, though, and the 24-year-old needs to make sure he doesn't cross it like he did last week when he hit Seattle Kraken defenceman Vince Dunn from behind. It was a dangerous play that earned Pospisil a threegame suspension, giving him a lot of time to think.
With his suspension up, Pospisil was set to return to the Flames lineup for Tuesday night's game against the Colorado Avalanche with a little more perspective on where he needs to draw the line with his physical play.
“I'm still young in this league and I'm still learning and I think it's a good lesson,” Pospisil said. “Just move on and be a little smarter.
“I mean, you can't hit a guy from behind. It wasn't a clean hit and I want to play physical and play hard but just play clean. It's not part of my game to play like that, so for sure I was disappointed, but move on and take that lesson.”
Getting Pospisil back in the lineup will be a big boost for a Flames team that struggled in a big way in back-to-back losses over the weekend to the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes.
The Flames have a 27-14-4 record when the Slovak winger is in the lineup and they're only 4-13-1 without him, so there's little question that he makes them a better team.
And his agitating ways are a big part of what makes him valuable.
The Flames don't want him getting ejected from games or becoming unavailable due to suspensions, but they like the way he plays and want him to keep doing what he does.
“We spent some time together in Tampa. What makes him a good player is the way he plays the game and that's something we most definitely don't want to take away from him,” Huska said. “I think he brings a lot of people into the game with the way he plays. As a young guy, you have to learn what is the line.
“That's something he'll be better for it for sure, but we most definitely want him to play the same way, just make sure he's aware of the line.”
Speaking to the media after Tuesday's morning skate, Pospisil certainly gave off the vibe of a man who was feeling contrite about his mistake.
There was no attempt to explain away the hit on Dunn, who hasn't played since.
It was a bad play, plain and simple, and while Pospisil had been tossed out of a game before this season, it wasn't for anything as egregious as the hit on the Kraken defenceman.
He doesn't want to gain a reputation for being a dirty player and have the referees keep an extraclose eye on him, so Pospisil does need to make sure nothing similar happens.
“Basically, if someone is not facing you and he's not facing the play, you can't just hit the guy,” Pospisil said. “Take this as a lesson. I hope (Dunn) is OK and I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Now, though, Pospisil is focused on the task at hand, which is trying to help the
Flames somehow salvage their season and find a way to sneak into the playoffs.
It's not a likely outcome, but having Pospisil back in the lineup should improve their odds just a bit.
“It's nice to be back,” Pospisil said. “It's not much fun to just watch the hockey and you can't really help the team when you're not on the ice. I'm happy I'm in the lineup tonight and just happy to be back.”
It's not part of my game to play like that, so for sure I was disappointed, but move on and take that lesson.