Three Takeaways as Flames hit holiday break with win over ...
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A PRODUCTIVE PAIRING?
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What is Zary’s favourite Christmas movie?
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“I’m a big Home Alone guy,” he replied. “The first one. The original.”
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For two seasons in the minors, one in Stockton and the other in Calgary, Zary was rarely home alone. That’s because he shared a place with Jakob Pelletier.
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They don’t live together anymore, but the 23-year-old forwards are spending plenty of time side-by-side as linemates. The way they’re clicking, Huska should be sticking with this combo. These former roommates certainly have a better connection than Harry and Marv.
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During Saturday’s second period, Pelletier picked up a loose puck in the left circle and didn’t need to shoulder-check before finding Zary with a nifty no-look pass.
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Blackhawks blue-liner Alex Vlasic tried to play goaltender, but the shot glanced off the shaft of his stick and still wound up in the back of the net.
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Some have wondered whether Pelletier would ever be a regular point-producer at the NHL level, but he’s perhaps started to provide an answer with a goal and three assists in eight games since being recalled from the AHL’s Wranglers.
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If he and Zary can help to snap Yegor Sharangovich out of his current slump, the Flames will have discovered another fascinating forward trio.
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“I found all night I was coming through the middle and (Pelletier) was able to give me the puck and vice versa, so I think that feels good,” Zary said when asked about skating alongside a guy who he describes as one of his best friends. “Obviously, it’s only been a few games now so you’re still trying to build that chemistry on the ice. We obviously have it off the ice, so just trying to find our games together and be productive and be an impact on the game every night.”
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DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
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What is Huberdeau’s favourite Christmas movie?
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Great question.
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The 31-year-old left-winger, after being saluted as Saturday’s second star, had to race to the airport to catch an evening flight back home so we didn’t get to ask.
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What we do know is that Flames fans are really enjoying Huberdeau’s highlight reel this December, and you wouldn’t have been saying that around the holiday break a year ago.
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In nine games this month, Huberdeau has already popped for five goals and six assists. Against the Blackhawks, he sniped a shortie. He could have potted a pair, except he was Grinched by Petr Mrazek on a penalty shot.
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It’s a stark contrast to December of 2023, when the Flames’ highest-paid player was limited to one measly point, an apple on New Year’s Eve.
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“For me, the way he ended last season, there seemed to be a little bit of swagger back in his game, and he’s got that again now,” said Huska, who’s found a nice fit with the line of Huberdeau, Kadri and Martin Pospisil. “I think he’s enjoying who he’s playing with right now. And I feel like probably more so for him, he feels like he can impact a game again the way he knows that he can.
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“What I like about him over the last couple of years is he has really committed to his play away from the puck. I think he’s a really good all-around player now and it’s nice to see him get rewarded again with some points because that’s important for him, as well.”
