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Think about if Andrei Kuzmenko may produce at this identical form of clip for all of subsequent season.
To this point, this wage dump has supplied loads of offensive thump for the Calgary Flames.
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The Russian right-winger cashed one other purpose — and added an help, too — throughout Sunday’s 6-5 win over the Arizona Coyotes and now has 14 notches and two-dozen factors in 27 video games since being traded to Cowtown.
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If he may preserve that tempo throughout a full slate, he’d end within the 40-goal and 70-point vary.
The Flames would gladly join that.
“When he’s feeling good about his sport, he desires the puck on his stick and he could make issues occur with it,” praised head coach Ryan Huska. “So I hope that is seeing some issues that we’re going to see sooner or later, persistently, from him. I imply, right now of the yr, generally it’s laborious to inform as a result of the video games are a bit totally different for us within the scenario that we’re in, however he appears way more snug on the ice proper now.
“So if that is what a cushty Kuzy appears like, we’ll take that, for positive.”
Whether or not that is only a sizzling streak or an indication of issues to come back, there’s little doubt Kuzmenko is ending the 2023-24 marketing campaign on a excessive observe.
In his 9 outings on Nazem Kadri’s wing, he has racked up 9 targets and 7 assists. Throughout your entire NHL, solely Auston Matthews and Steven Stamkos have tickled extra twine over that 18-day span. Solely Nikita Kucherov has extra complete factors. That’s elite firm.
Kuzmenko buried 39 final winter on behalf of the Vancouver Canucks, so the scoring pop — together with Friday’s hat-trick in Anaheim — doesn’t come as an entire shock.
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The Canucks didn’t doubt his offensive skill-set. There have been, nonetheless, questions on his handiwork and give-a-hoot in his personal zone and the West Coasters had been eager to unload his contract — with a US$5-million cap-hit for this season and subsequent — as a part of a commerce for Elias Lindholm.
The way in which the 28-year-old Kuzmenko has been filling the score-sheet, and the way in which he appears to be clicking with Kadri, that just about looks as if a discount.
“Plenty of work earlier than this final 9 video games,” Kuzmenko informed reporters after Sunday’s victory over the soon-to-be-on-the-move Coyotes. “It’s not a shock, the outcomes, as a result of it’s large work for me. And earlier than, large modifications.
“It’s a giant distinction for me, as a result of it’s my second season on this league. I perceive what I would like, how I have to work and practice, how I have to focus … and the way I have to consider in myself.
“Tough begin in Calgary, it was. However now, I perceive.”
That might be large information for the Flames.
Kadri, who potted a pair of targets Sunday towards the Coyotes, boosting his season complete to 29, prompt that Kuzmenko’s present tear is perhaps a results of “that rejuvenation feeling” and a willpower to silence any doubters.
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As Kadri put it: “I feel that chip in your shoulder can clearly be motivating for sure gamers.”
If that’s the case, hopefully Kuzmenko can maintain that chip proper the place it’s.
“For me, don’t cease,” he mentioned. “Work, work work.”
And rating, rating, rating?
The Flames could be wonderful with that.
AROUND THE BOARDS
Kadri’s career-high is 32 targets, a quantity he hit in back-to-back campaigns with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After a pair of third-period tallies Sunday on the Saddledome, he’s now getting ready to 30 for the third time in his profession. “Clearly, I’ve proved I can get there earlier than,” Kadri mentioned. “So I can by no means promote myself quick” … Matt Coronato, Yegor Sharangovich and Connor Zary additionally discovered the again of the online towards the Coyotes … Sharangovich’s second-period strike —a slick transfer to his backhand after a feed from captain Mikael Backlund — might be a giant story in his homeland. With that purpose, Sharangovich set a brand new single-season report for many factors by a Belarusian, with 59. That mark beforehand belonged to his good friend and mentor, Mikhail Grabovski … Flames workhorse MacKenzie Weegar is now a member of a bruised crew. Throughout the NHL, he’s one among simply 5 dudes to dam 200 pictures this season … Between the pipes, Dustin Wolf earned a 3rd straight victory. Dylan Guenther tucked two for the guests, whereas Alex Kerfoot, Matias Maccelli and Josh Doan additionally slipped pucks previous Wolf … Coronato referred to as his personal quantity on a two-on-one rush, pondering a move to Kevin Rooney however as an alternative wiring a wrister previous Connor Ingram on the glove-side. Whereas Coronato has solely notched three NHL targets up to now, the 21-year-old right-winger has averaged 1.05 factors per sport in 40 appearances within the minors, an encouraging stat-line for a first-year professional. As he reminded all people with Sunday’s snipe, this child has a depraved shot.
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OFF THE GLASS
Blake Coleman is the newest winner of the Peter Maher Good Man Award, which is voted by native media and introduced to the Flames participant who finest demonstrates the virtues of the legendary radio broadcaster — sincerity, integrity, dedication and respect. Maher, who was the voice of the Flames for 33 seasons, was at Sunday’s morning skate handy out the {hardware} and even marked the event with a “Yeah, child!” … Coleman, by the way in which, missed a 3rd consecutive contest attributable to an upper-body damage … The Flames have two video games remaining — Tuesday’s conflict with the Canucks in Vancouver and Thursday’s house capper towards the San Jose Sharks.
wgilbertson@postmedia.com
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