Calgary Flames: Five Reasons They Made It To The Playoffs
By Ramina Shlah
PUTTING FERLAND ON THE TOP LINE
Micheal Ferland is definitely an underdog and is highly underrated. But putting him up on that first line alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan was one of the best ideas Glen Gulutzan has had all season long.
Via Calgaryflames.com:
"“It was just a gut feeling,” said Gulutzan, when asked what led to him putting Ferland with Monahan and Gaudreau. “Just the way he’d played prior to that coming off the break. He’d had a lot of jump, was playing hard.”"
Well keep listening to your gut, coach. Cause it’s working.
Ferland was initially put onto that top line on February 21st, when the Flames won 6-5 in OT against the Nashville Predators. And Ferland? Well, he scored 46 seconds into the game. So clearly putting him on that top line paid off early. He ended up getting another goal that game as well.
That game marked the beginning of the Flames franchise-tying win-streak of 10 games.
Calgary Flames
Via Calgary Herald:
"“He’s sneakily skilled,” Gaudreau said of Ferland. “Guys look at him just as a fighter and a big tough guy, but he’s smart with the puck. He’s intelligent, he can read the play and he has a great shot, too. He played great (Tuesday) for us and it was good to get a bit of chemistry there.” “All the coaches tell me, ‘When you have a chance to shoot the puck, just shoot the puck,’ ” Ferland said. “I think last year and the year before, too, I would always look to pass first before I would look to shoot. And now, I think, just being kind of selfish and shooting the puck more.”"
Keep being selfish, Ferly.
And not to mention how much this has helped Gaudreau and Monahan. Since February 21st, Gaudreau’s tied for fourth in points in the league with 25 points in 19 games. Sean Monahan is right behind him, being sixth in points with 23 points in 19 games. Gaudreau’s also tied in first for assists since the 21st.
Since then, Ferland also has seven goals in 17 games. Before that, he had eight goals in 55 games.
Multiple players have definitely benefitted from this switch and the top line finally contributing is a big reason the Flames season turned around and they’re able to be in a playoff spot.