Huberdeau pinned to the bench as Flames author a comeback win

Calgary's highest paid forward saw no ice in the third period in 4-2 comeback win over the Nashville Predators

On a night the Calgary Flames were able to celebrate a second straight win thanks to a third-period comeback, just as big was the fact one player was not part of the fun.

While the Flames were erasing a deficit with four unanswered goals in Tuesday’s 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators, their highest-paid but struggling player Jonathan Huberdeau was stapled to the bench for the third period.

Give coach Ryan Huska credit for having the courage for taking such a bold stance.

“Just an off-night. It happens,” Huska said, trying to downplay the situation and later added the benching had nothing to do with a lack of effort.

“He’s fine. It’s not anything anybody wants to go through ever, but at times it’s gonna happen. You’re not going to have your A-plus game every night.”

Huberdeau, in the first season of the eight-year contract that carries a $10.5-million cap hit, has had plenty of “off nights” since joining the Flames. In 12 games this season, he has just two goals and six points, along with a minus-12 rating.

Against the Predators, he officially had two giveaways, no shots and ... not much else.

He wasn’t alone watching during the third period, with fourth liners A.J. Greer and Walker Duehr also on the pine the whole frame.

Now the study will be the fallout.

The Flames are banking on turning their fortunes and making a playoff push — they are only four points out with 70 games remaining on the schedule — but need production from Huberdeau to make it happen.

A spat between the coach and the player, or a sulking skater, will not help the cause.

His teammates insist everything will be fine.

“Huby’s the man. He’s good, the most positive guy I’ve been around,” insisted forward Dillon Dube. “It’s one period of his life, of his career, it’s not a big deal. I don’t think anyone’s too worried about it and I don’t think we should be.”

Added Blake Coleman, who scored the game-winning goal: “I don’t know if the camera caught him but when we score the go-ahead goal, get those blocks down the stretch, he’s celebrating. He’s excited for the team. He’s a team guy through and through. It’s our job to lift each other up when things aren’t going well. We’ll do that for him and we know that he’s gonna be lifting us up as the year goes on here.”

Not to be totally lost in the shuffle, Nazem Kadri scored once in a two-point game, while Dube and Noah Hanifin also tallied and goalie Jacob Markstrom stopped 17 shots in the win.

Visit back Wednesday morning for the takeaways and more coverage.