Rookie has all but earned an opening day roster spot after leading the way in Monday's win over Winnipeg
Matt Coronato’s hat trick in a three-point outing to kick off the pre-season gave the Calgary Flames faithful plenty to be excited about.
The rookie forward was even better in a one-goal, two-assist performance that led the Flames to the 5-4 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday.
Coronato was pencilled in for an opening-night roster spot before camp opened and has all but proven he is worthy of that opportunity following his latest performance. He put on full display why the Flames selected him 13th overall in the 2021 draft.
His third-period power-play goal, the game-winner, was a textbook example of his big-league shot, a rocket from the right dot that simply beat star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
His assists were from a long shot that created a rebound for Mikael Backlund to bury and a nifty touch pass to create a tap-in tally for Adam Ruzicka.
Just as important was how Coronato’s dogged determination for the puck helped pull the Flames out of their opening-period doldrums.
“He wants to make a team, right?,” coach Ryan Huska told the media post-game. “If you watch him away from pucks, when he doesn’t have it, how hard he works to try and get it back, that’s why he’s had success.”
What Coronato achieves when the league’s veterans start finding their top gears in the regular season remains to be seen, but in his favor are his work ethic and desire to have the puck on his stick when it matters.
The Flames have a 4-1-1 mark in the exhibition slate, with two more road clashes to come, Wednesday in Edmonton and Friday in Vancouver before the season kicks off next week.
Here are other thoughts from the clash, a preview of the curtain raiser for both clubs on Oct. 11 in the Saddledome.
Troubling start for a veteran lineup
As it stands, it would be no shock if the only changes from Monday’s lineup and the season opener is the additions of Walker Duehr on the fourth line in place of Cole Schwindt or Dryden Hunt, and Dan Vladar the back-up goalie instead of Dustin Wolf.
Which is why the sloppy first period can’t be acceptable. Calgary’s defensive play that led to the Winnipeg staking a 2-0 left something to be desired.
Don’t be surprised to see veteran heavy lineups to end the pre-season to build more familiarity with the gameplan tweaks under Huska.
Line ’em up
Elias Lindholm and Jonathan Huberdeau are yet to prove they can be a successful duo, but putting Andrew Mangiapane on the right wing appeared to provide more chemistry than we saw with Yegor Sharangovich in earlier outings.
Even so, expect line tinkering as the coaches tried to find the best possible combinations. We all know Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman can be two-thirds of an effective line with nearly anybody as the third party.
What appears tough to find are the combinations that will ignite the de facto top line as well as work with Nazem Kadri.
It would be an interesting study putting Coronato with Lindholm and Huberdeau. Coronato could be the puck hound and shooter that Huberdeau needs.
Where does Ruzicka fit?
Adam Ruzicka is making strides in the quest for consistency. The 24-year-old has the size and skill to be an impact player and — to his credit — has helped his cause so far in the pre-season. His goal wasn’t the only solid play worth lauding on a night Huska noted “he played with pace, too.”
But the caveat remains.
“The challenge for him is not what he did today, it’s what he’s gonna do in Edmonton,” Huska said, alluding to the next game.
Ruzicka is wild card on the roster, and the club is giving him ample opportunity to prove he can be a middle six winger. As it stands, they may need him as a fourth-line center, but that carrot is worth dangling.
ICE CHIPS: It was a beautiful touch to have fans hold their phones with the light on for a moment of silence to honour Chris Snow before the game. Snow, the assistant GM and VP of hockey operations, died on Saturday at age 42 due to complications from ALS ... Earlier on Monday, G Oscar Dansk, D Colton Poolman, C Clark Bishop and C Ben Jones were put on waivers, ticketed for the AHL Wranglers provided they clear … It would be unwise to expect D Jordan Oesterle to be a point-per-game player as he’s been through four pre-season outings, but he has done a good job solidifying a spot in the top six for a team without Oliver Kylington … Calgary’s power play has struggled as a whole while working with new assistant coach Marc Savard’s playbook, but it would help to win more than one of seven face-offs while on the man-advantage as was the case against the Jets.
