Quips and Quotes: Flames beat Jets 6-3

The Calgary Flames beat the Winnipeg Jets by a 6-3 score on Wednesday night. Here are selected reactions from players and coaches following the game.

Flames netminder David Rittich was involved in a pair of interesting incidents in this game.

Late in the second period, the usually calm Rittich lost his temper when he was poked by a Jets player after a whistle. He was very upset… until he noticed the player he was chasing after was the towering Dustin Byfuglien, who Rittich recounted after the game had fought two players at once recently in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“It was bad pick by me because I just felt someone’s stick on my glove and I just get up and I just want to let them know… and then I see 33,” said Rittich, recalling his emotional state. “It was a little bit scary moment for me.”

In the third period, Bryan Little scored a fourth Jets goal that was immediately called back upon on-ice review. The officials on the ice determined that Jacob Trouba interfered with Rittich’s ability to play the position by taking his leg out from under him while cutting across the crease area.

“What was i supposed to do?” said Rittich. “I tried to go back to my crease and he kicked my leg out, so I didn’t even move there.”

The no-goal call held up after a coach’s challenge by the Jets. Flames head coach Bill Peters noted that he was fairly sure it would go the team’s way, but joked that there was a bit of doubt in his mind.

“There’s always doubt,” said Peters. “Obviously he wasn’t able to play his position, so I thought it was the right call. But you never know. When you go to review, it’s scary.”

Flames captain Mark Giordano was generally happy with the way the team played, though he noted the team had their hands full with the Jets’ push in the second period.

Giordano added that the Flames are feeling good about their game and believe that they’re a good team.

“It’s all about belief in this league. Most teams are pretty close and it usually comes down to little things and right now we’re doing a lot of little things right,” said Giordano, noting some adjustments the team has made since earlier in the season. “Defensively we were giving up way too much early. It’s not just in our own zone, though, I think we’re playing aggressive in the O-zone and the neutral zone, which we’re not giving up as many opportunities.”