Quips and Quotes: Flames beat Islanders 4-2

The Calgary Flames beat the New York Islanders by a 4-2 score on Wednesday night. Here are selected reactions from players and coaches following the game.

The Flames haven’t been a perfect hockey club since the All-Star Break. But they rose to the occasion against the defensively stingy Islanders, holding them to just six shots through two periods and battling back when the visitors tied the game early in the third period.

“Real happy with the way we played,” said Flames head coach Bill Peters. “I thought all four lines, all three sets of D found a way to contribute. I thought Smitty moved the puck real well, was solid when they had a push in the third. and I liked the way we played, I thought we were on our toes and we set the tone.”

Peters praised the team’s maturity, particularly working hard in the offensive zone but not giving up momentum in-between shifts. To steal Peters’ phrasing: “We left the next group something to work with.”

The coaching staff changed up the defensive pairings after the second Islanders goal. TJ Brodie, making his return from an injury, played just five shifts for the remainder of the game – with three of those shifts coming after Rasmus Andersson was walloped by Cal Clutterbuck. Giordano played with Andersson, Brodie (when he was used) with Hamonic, and Kylington with Hanifin.

Peters shared the rationale for the defensive pairing shuffle:

Mikael Backlund was tossed from the game with 5:02 remaining, getting tagged with minors for embellishment, unsportsmanlike conduct and apparently a 10-minute misconduct – he was tossed, so he must have gotten another penalty.

It goes without saying that Peters wasn’t a big fan of the call.

Finally, the victory was the Flames’ 37th of the season and matched their entire total from the 2017-18 season (with 22 games remaining). Flames blueliner Travis Hamonic noted that this season’s group is a lot different than last’s.

“We’re a way different group,” said Hamonic. “Way different coaching staff, way different group of players. A little bit different mentality, so I think last year’s way behind us and we’re confident in our group and the personnel we have.”