Calgary Flames having fun with break in hectic schedule

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It’s not fairly the calm earlier than the storm.

It’s extra just like the Calgary Flames obtained by one storm and might see the following one coming.

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However for now, they’re having fun with the relative peace and quiet that the NHL schedule makers have served up this week on the Saddledome.

The Flames got here off their three-day Christmas vacation and get proper again into motion Wednesday evening in opposition to the Seattle Kraken.

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They’ll then have three days earlier than they take the ice once more for a New Yr’s Eve dwelling date with the Philadelphia Flyers.

It’s a light-weight schedule. It simply occurs to be sandwiched in between two deadly, busy stretches.

“Yeah, it’s the previous Calgary Flames schedule, proper? We normally get the nice schedule,” mentioned Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson, tongue planted firmly in cheek. “It’s an fascinating one, that’s for certain. We simply concentrate on tonight and take it from there.

“It was good to have just a few days off. Powerful journey, so it was good to have just a few days to spend time with household and mates and that type of stuff. Now, we have now to flip the swap.”

The Flames definitely deserved somewhat breather. Between Nov. 14 and Dec. 23, they performed 20 video games in 39 days. Half of these video games had been on the street, with video games in each single NHL time zone.

And January goes to be almost as exhausting. The schedule-makers didn’t make life simple for the Flames.

Between Jan. 2 and the beginning of the Flames’ all-star break on the twenty seventh of the month, the Flames will play 13 video games in 26 days.

Thankfully, there’s a prolonged six-game homestand that begins Jan. 9, nevertheless it’s nonetheless going to be a grind.

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So once more, a lighter week over the vacation season is unquestionably being welcomed across the Saddledome, though Flames captain Mikael Backlund mentioned the group was additionally desirous to get going once more.

“We’re all excited to be again,” Backlund mentioned. “We had a very good break however I like taking part in instantly, and not using a apply day. It’s good to get into it instantly. … We’ll have some days in between to work on issues.”

It’s most likely truthful to say that the following 5 weeks will outline the Flames’ 2023-24 season and, given the uncertainty surrounding soon-to-be unrestricted free brokers Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev, it may decide the path GM Craig Conroy chooses to take the group.

However there’s no cause to consider the powerful upcoming schedule will break the Flames. Regardless of the challenges introduced by their hectic November and December, they managed to go 10-7-3 of their 20 video games previous to Wednesday’s matchup with the Kraken.

“I believe our schedule the final two weeks of November and the beginning of December was about as exhausting as you’re going to get, so I believe we’re ready for it,” mentioned Flames defenceman Tanev. “We play (Wednesday) after which have just a few days after which it’s principally each different day till the all-star break.

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“It’s time for us to take the following step as a crew and attempt to string just a few collectively.”

Sam Honzek coming by at world juniors

Flames followers watching the IIHF World Junior Championships are most likely beginning to get fairly enthusiastic about Sam Honzek.

The 19-year-old scored his second game-winner in as many days on Wednesday morning, serving to raise Slovakia to a 3-0 win over Switzerland.

Honzek, chosen within the first spherical, sixteenth total of the 2023 NHL Draft by the Flames, is spending the season with the Vancouver Giants however is predicted to play an enormous function for Slovakia at this yr’s world juniors.

Via the primary two video games of the event, he’s definitely risen to the event, is plus-four, scoring twice and including an help whereas serving to the Slovakian crew go 2-0 for the primary time on the event since 2002.

Calgary Wranglers on homestand

Hockey followers have a golden alternative to get a detailed have a look at the Calgary Wranglers over the following couple of weeks.

Beginning with Thursday’s matchup in opposition to the Abbotsford Canucks (7 p.m.), the Wranglers play eight-straight dwelling video games on the Saddledome, wrapping up with a two-game set in opposition to the Ontario Reign on Jan. 11 and 12.

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