Calgary Flames Daily: Players who have been turning heads

With a win against the Washington Capitals last night to redeem themselves, the Calgary Flames have some players who have been impressing.

After a two-game losing streak, the Calgary Flames managed to redeem themselves last night against a tired Washington Capitals team. The Flames are now 2-4-0 at home and will hope to improve that in their season-long seven-game home stance. Some players have been turning heads in the process.

A player like Johnny Gaudreau, who people were expecting to be good regardless, has been quietly climbing his way up in points. He’s currently tied for fourth in points with 15 in 13 games. He’s tied for third in assists with 12. Johnny’s also averaging 1.25 points/per-game and even in the Flames losses, he’s getting those points.

He also has points in six of his last seven games.

Related Story: Flames finally get another win at home

Via Calgary Flames:

“I mean, that’s … Johnny,” reasoned Sean Monahan, as if the out-of-the-ordinary were the most normal, natural thing in the world. “We see it day-in and day-out.“He reads the game better than anybody I know. He sees the ice better than anybody I know.“That’s his hockey sense. Quick feet, quick hands. If you can get open in a quality spot, a quiet area, you’re going to get the puck.”“I knew we had a 2-on-1 to start the play off,” said Gaudreau. “I was going to try and force it in there but I think it was (Brooks) Oprik slid a little early, so I just pulled up. I was looking for a D at first but their guys didn’t really catch Monny at the back side there.“I just zipped it down to him. (Monahan)’s one of the best at finding that little soft area. Makes my job easier. He does a great job getting open. Like that last goal tonight.“A lot of guys would’ve just turned or gone around the net. He just stops and finds that area. My eyes light up when you see a guy just sitting there like that.“I mean, No one was around him. The goalie was on the complete other side of the net.“If I don’t make that play, I don’t belong in this league.”

By the way, Sean Monahan has also been quietly impressing, with four game-winning goals so far this season. He’s tied for first in that category. Right now, at the age of 23, Sean Monahan is tied in ninth with Joel Otto for game-winning goals with 23. He’s just two behind Lanny McDonald and Kent Nilsson. In 2014-15, he finished in 3rd place for GWG with eight. He’s already halfway there and it hasn’t even been a month into the season.

Another player who was one of the best forwards for the Calgary Flames last night was Micheal Ferland.

Calgary Flames

Via Calgary Sun:

“I thought he [Ferland] was physical when he could be physical. Sometimes it’s hard to do that when you have the puck all night and you are in on the forecheck. He did a little bit of everything tonight. He did everything he did the last half of (last) season.”“I think Gully challenged him after last practice and told him he’s the full package: strong and great offensively and defensively,” said Gaudreau following the victory.“Tonight, he played exactly the way he knows how to.”“I felt we controlled the puck a lot of the shifts we had, and as the game went on, I was more and more comfortable,” said Ferland, who has three goals on a season that has seen him bounce between the first line and the fourth.“The confidence just builds and builds, and you feel more confident with the puck and can make more plays.”

We don’t know Ferland’s future when Jaromir Jagr returns to the lineup. But we may see him on that top line more often.

Flames Tweet of the day

Hockey Tweet of the day

Some links surrounding the Flames

Sean Monahan scores in third, Flames edge Capitals (Sportsnet).

Sean Monahan’s late marker pushes Flames past Capitals (CBC Sports).

Ferland makes most of icetime with Jagr out of Flames lineup (Calgary Sun).

Flames fourth-rounder Adam Ruzicka heeds advice, turns heads in junior (Calgary Sun).

Some links surrounding hockey and the NHL

New York Islanders John Tavares Wins NHL’s First Star Of The Week (Eyes on Isles).

Wheeler propels Jets past Penguins in record-setting first period (NHL.com).

THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS KEEP GETTING BLOWN OUT (the Hockey News).

5 things we learned in the NHL last week: Phil Kessel is afraid of the Grim Reaver (CBC Sports).

Next: Mark Giordano does not get enough credit

That’s all in today’s Flames Daily! Does Jagr return to the lineup on Thursday?