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Jacob Markstrom is thought for his calm and funky within the crease.
Nothing appears to spike his coronary heart charge any.
So whereas the usual just-another-game spiel is commonly a bunch of bologna, you get the sensation this specific cat — now tending twine for the Calgary Flames — will likely be as even-keel as ever in his return to Rogers Area in Vancouver, his house digs for the earlier seven seasons.
“It’s a little bit of a particular factor once you return and play your first recreation within the enviornment the place you spent so a few years as a house staff participant,” stated Calgary’s coach, Geoff Ward, because the Flames headed to Vancouver for back-to-back-to-back clashes towards the Canucks. “However on the identical time limit, he’s performed sufficient video games within the league that I don’t assume it’s going alter his method or alter the way in which he performs.
“You already know, it might be actual comfy for him. And that could be a optimistic factor for us.”
Markstrom, signed this fall to a six-year, US$36-million contract as the very best backstop on the free-agent market, has thus far been a significant optimistic for the Flames.
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The 30-year-old owns a 6-3-1 report within the early levels of this season. He pitched a shutout towards the Canucks in Calgary’s home-opener in mid-January and bought the very best of his former buddies once more two nights later.
He’ll be one of many guests now because the Flames arrange in Vancouver for 3 straight, beginning with Thursday’s 8 p.m. MT matchup (Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan).
Markstrom insisted that is “a enterprise journey,” very true because the pandemic protocols will forestall him from assembly up with any of his associates in his previous hometown.
He gained’t should marvel about how the followers will react. Rogers Area will likely be empty.
“I’m excited. It’s going to be enjoyable,” Markstrom stated previous to Wednesday’s flight from Calgary to Vancouver. “A bit particular, however I really feel like the primary recreation we performed right here was the weirdest one. It’s going to be powerful to beat that. Now, we’re a bit into the season and also you get used to the sport and being right here and taking part in for the Flames.
“It will have been business-like both approach, we go there to play for 2 factors,” he added later. “However I believe, for certain, it will have been far more particular and totally different with followers within the constructing. That’s altering issues slightly bit. However that’s been my house rink for a very long time and to return there, I’m excited.”
The Flames are coming off back-to-back victories and appear to lastly be discovering some consistency of their recreation.
The Canucks, however, have dropped 5 in a row.
Famous person-in-the-making Quinn Hughes was in all probability pondering of Markstrom and his former defence associate Chris Tanev — one other dude now donning the Flaming C — when he made this comment after Monday’s newest setback in Toronto: “We now have numerous new items. We misplaced some fairly good gamers from final yr, and we’re simply making an attempt to place all of it collectively.”
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Their previous pal, Markstrom, will attempt to extend the distress.
He’s thus far been a success on the Saddledome, not solely due to his puck-stopping prowess however because of his slot in a locker-room that’s stocked with fellow Swedes.
A couple of times every evening, the ex-Canucks stalwart appears to make a extremely troublesome cease look surprisingly routine. Tuesday’s pad save on Mark Scheifele is the most recent instance.
“He anticipates actually, very well, when it comes to what’s going on with the play, and he positions himself accordingly so he by no means appears to be like like he’s uncontrolled,” Ward stated. “And the opposite factor about him is he’s all the time calm. He provides your staff numerous quiet confidence from the back-end, although he’s a fiery competitor. And that interprets into our complete staff.
“What he’s completed since he’s been right here has been every little thing that we’ve requested.”
ICE CHIPS: Flames prospect Glenn Gawdin has been promoted from the minors to the taxi squad. The 23-year-old Gawdin was an American Hockey League all-star final season and is up subsequent on the depth chart at centre.
