Elias Lindholm logging main minutes for Calgary Flames

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Earlier than the Calgary Flames departed on this two-game, home-just-in-time-for-the-holidays roadie, Elias Lindholm proudly reported that his Christmas procuring was full.

“I’m carried out,” he grinned. “Simply ready for the final cargo to my home.”

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Since so many people are relying on the Amazon drivers and Canada Put up carriers for our buzzer-beating reward deliveries, you gained’t catch Lindholm complaining about his personal heavy lifting.

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However because the NHL’s festive break nears, the Flames prime centre may probably profit from a breather.

Whereas Lindholm has lengthy been a go-to man, he at present is averaging virtually a full minute extra per sport than his earlier career-high.

The 29-year-old logged 23:10 of icetime throughout Thursday’s 3-0 blanking of the Anaheim Geese, the biggest workload for any Flames ahead in a regulation-length sport this season. He popped for 3 factors within the victory with a power-play purpose and a pair of assists.

Precisely per week earlier, Lindholm almost hit 25 minutes in a shootout loss in Minnesota.

Throughout the NHL, there are solely 13 forwards — names like Crosby, Kucherov, McDavid, Matthews and MacKinnon — who’ve been busier within the month of December.

“I believe he’s carried out an excellent job with it,” Flames bench boss Ryan Huska praised. “There are specific days that we’d have most likely preferred to have supplied him a ‘upkeep’ day. However there’s additionally been instances the place we’ve considered it and he says, ‘No, I need to skate.’ As a result of typically while you’re taking part in extra, even getting on the ice for somewhat little bit of a lighter skate at instances, it makes the physique really feel fairly good.

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“Nevertheless it’s plenty of minutes and the problem that now we have with him is these minutes are heavy — towards prime strains, there’s penalty kill, there’s energy play. He type of does every thing for us. So we as coaches do should do a job of managing his day without work the ice, as effectively.”

After Saturday’s conflict towards the Kings in Los Angeles (8 p.m. MT, CBC/Sportsnet 960 The Fan), Lindholm and his buddies can kick up their skates for a three-day vacation lay-off.

The eggnog would, unquestionably, style somewhat bit sweeter if they will full a SoCal sweep. Now driving a three-game win streak, the Flames improved to 14-14-5 with their shutout victory in Anaheim and are taking pictures to climb above the .500 mark for the primary time since October.

“We’ve performed some good hockey recently,” Lindholm assessed.

Their No. 1 centre deserves a giant chunk of credit score for that.

Whereas some have been underwhelmed by Lindholm’s offensive output, he has hit the scoresheet in 4 of his previous 5 outings and his dynamite efficiency towards the Geese leaves him only one level off the group lead. He’s as much as 23, whereas Nazem Kadri tops the charts at 24.

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“We anticipate (Lindholm) to generate offence for us, however he’s additionally a man that we anticipate to play towards prime strains,” Huska reminded previous to the journey. “His 200-foot sport is true up there within the league, in our opinion, with the best way he performs the sport.

“Whenever you’re a pure offensive man, plenty of instances coaches will begin you within the offensive zone on faceoffs. However in Lindy’s scenario, take a look at an instance just like the New Jersey sport — each faceoff within the defensive zone that (Jack) Hughes was on the ice, so was Lindy.

“In order that takes away somewhat little bit of his offensive potential as a result of he’s not in these conditions. We’ve to belief him in different areas, as effectively.”

These are variety phrases from Huska, however coaches give their most significant compliments by icetime. And Lindholm is continually being tapped, tapped, tapped for one more shift. He’s averaging 21 minutes on the season. His earlier career-high was 20:02 in 2018-19, his first marketing campaign in Calgary.

If this pending unrestricted free agent is, certainly, traded previous to the deadline, he’ll go away a serious void within the lineup.

On the flip-side, the Flames ought to be capable of command a hefty return bundle, particularly if this low-maintenance middle-man turns into a prime goal for a number of contenders. This week alone, the Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche have been rumoured as potential suitors.

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“Clearly, the belief issue is there,” Lindholm stated of his heavy workload up to now this season. “I’m taking part in normally towards the highest gamers, so it’s plenty of accountability and I take plenty of satisfaction in that, attempt to win plenty of faceoffs and attempt to assist the group in any means I can.

“It’s simply enjoyable to have that belief issue and play plenty of minutes.”

It’ll be enjoyable, too, to have just a few days off.

He can lastly chill out. So long as that final supply arrives.

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