Gulutzan hot ahead of Flames matchup with Ducks
CALGARY, Alberta -- Calgary Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan was the talk of the National Hockey League on Friday.
On Saturday, the hockey world will see if it motivated his team to two points.
Gulutzan went on a Twitter-trending tirade during practice as the team prepared for Saturday's home date with the Anaheim Ducks.
It was a profanity-laced outburst that ended with Gulutzan flinging his stick into the Saddledome stands.
"We have a standard here and we weren't at it today. We have to get to that standard. This is an everyday league," he told reporters afterward.
The night before the Flames overcame 2-0 deficit to beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3.
While Gulutzan got a solid effort on Thursday, he didn't get what he wanted on Friday and the players took it in stride.
"We don't want to be complacent in this room and be happy with where we're at, because I don't think we should be happy with where we're at," defensemen Michael Stone said.
The Flames (20-16-4) take to the ice against Anaheim three points back of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Saturday's game marks the midway point of the 82-game regular season.
The Calgary media arrived at the rink Friday morning expecting to focus on rumors that were circulating regarding a possible retirement announcement from Jaromir Jagr, who has suffered through lower-body injuries through much of his first season in Calgary. The 45-year-old did not play against Los Angeles and did not practice on Friday or answer questions.
Gulutzan did not update the media other than to say that Jagr remains day-to-day.
The Ducks (19-4-9) have 47 points -- the same as eighth-place Minnesota Wild -- but they've played one more game.
Anaheim lost 2-1 to Edmonton in a shootout on Thursday and are 5-1-1 in their past seven games.
They've survived despite plenty of injuries, including to captain Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Patrick Eaves and Ryan Kesler, who is just back after having offseason hip surgery.
"We just needed to keep our head above water, really," Andrew Cogliano, one of four players to play all 42 games, told NHL.com. "We had a lot of guys who stepped up, guys that maybe were in the AHL last year, guys that maybe hadn't played big minutes or in positions they weren't used to, and did a good job.
"We missed our best players, but when you get them back, it adds another element to our team."
Perry has been out since Dec. 11 with a lower-body injury but has resumed practicing with the team and is on the current road trip.
The Ducks got a big effort from goalie Jon Gibson and power play in Edmonton. Kesler tied the game with :18 seconds into the third period with his first goal since returning on Dec. 27.
"We battled back and we got a point in the game and we have to credit our goaltender and our power play, and special teams," head coach Randy Carlyle said.
"We took two penalties in overtime that we killed off, and those are the types of things that show character of your team, that you're able to battle back and stay in the games."
