'A GOOD CHALLENGE'

Depending on who you talk to, it's the most important or least important stat in hockey.
But whichever side you happen to fall on, the two parties can at least agree on this: Fifty percent (or more) is often the benchmark in the faceoff circle.
"It's definitely super important for a guy like me, who's maybe only taking five or six a game," said Kevin Rooney, who won four of the eight draws he took on Monday against the Coyotes. "Those are really important for our team to get possession of the puck - and especially for our line, because we're a possession line. It's certainly something I need to continue to do better at."

Rooney' s career average in the faceoff circle is 46%. He's always focusing on that aspect of the game and works diligently to improve, leaning on veteran Mikael Backlund - in particular - to learn some new tricks of the trade.
Faceoffs are a crucial element of the Darryl Sutter system, with the coach rolling his four lines and dispersing ice time in a more balanced fashion - at least, until the situation requires him to shorten the bench.
In a lot of ways, it comes down to trust. The Flames are a possession team and the smart money says that if you start with the puck more often than not, you'll tend to hang onto it longer, too.
Chasing the biscuit - and, in turn, the game - late in a close one is hardly the recipe for success.
You've got to find a way to be trusted in those key situations.
"Especially a team like Minnesota (Wednesday's opponent), I have to do my homework," Rooney said. "We get our career stats against every team sent to us. I'll usually take a look at it, see who I've done well against and who I haven't done well against and usually watch (video) from there.
"Minnesota is a team I haven't seen very much, so definitely, tonight, I'll be focusing on watching some video on some of those guys. I know they've got a good centre group over there. Big, strong guys.
"It's going to be a good challenge."
Beyond the faceoff circle, Rooney understands the role of a fourth line and how it can positively impact games.
And he also knows that they can do more to become that trusted group of difference-makers.
Unlike others on the roster, who might be given a bit more leeway - either by status, or by putting up big numbers offensively - mistakes are magnified when you play fewer than 10 minutes per game.
So, you have to make your shifts count. It's a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately-type role that requires a relentless work ethic.
Something Rooney, truly, has in spades.
"The speed aspect," Rooney said when asked what he's hoping to bring consistently. "Just trying to get in on the forecheck, use my speed and skating. It's my No.-1 asset, so it's what I've got to do. Every night. Be a guy that's creating energy.
"We've played a lot of hockey here and our top-three centres have logged a ton of minutes, so I'm hoping to step my game up a little more and take some of the pressure off those guys. Confidence plays a big factor, too. I have to be a little more confident with the puck, try to make plays, and then be solid in my own end. I feel like I've been solid defensively over the last five or six, even though I've been out in between there. If I keep that up and keeping getting in on the forecheck and creating momentum for our team, that's a good sign."
Over the course of this current, five-game homestand, we've seen the Flames round into form. They've won three of the four games to this point, and could arguably have claimed all four, if not for the outlandish goaltending performance of Jake Allen in a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens last week.
Regardless, the reason for their success is that everyone's played a part and has taken ownership of their role.
A good shift from one line creates momentum and sets the table for the next.
And the next.
And so on.
They key, now, for Rooney, Milan Lucic, Trevor Lewis and Brett Ritchie, is to keep the pedal down and find even more ways to contribute.
Because, as we get deeper into the year, down the stretch and into the playoffs, those 10 minutes a game will become even more crucial.
"All the lines have trust within the team and the coaching staff, which is great," Rooney said. "It's not always like that on every team. We feel like we have a strong depth group here. We had Rich sitting out the other night and he's had a great start to the year, so that really speaks to the quality of the group here. I feel like we have a lot of depth and everyone can kind of plug in and be good for us.
"You need four lines. If you want to be a playoff team and go far, you're going to need every guy in this locker-room. We like our depth and where we're at right now, and hopefully as a line we can start to contribute more offensively, too."