'A NEW CHALLENGE TONIGHT'

If you could only pick one, what would your Game of the Year from the 2021-22 season be?
Most, likely, would turn to the playoffs. Everyone remembers where they were, what they were doing and who they were with when the Flames knocked off the Dallas Stars in overtime of Game 7 at the Scotibank Saddledome. Or, when the team turned back the clock and outscored the Oilers 9-6 in a second-round riot.
But it was what unfolded a few weeks earlier that stands out for this reporter. An unequivocal, unabashed, white-knuckle thrill ride.
The Flames and Predators threw caution to the wind and gave fans the most entertaining game in some time.
And yes, that includes the postseason.

"We've had some good battles with them last year and it's probably going to carry over this year," said Dillon Dube, who scored twice in that April 26 affair that saw the Flames win 4-3 in overtime. "They play hard. We're going to have to put our work boots on. It's going to be a heavy, working game tonight. It's exciting. That's why you play. It's a lot of fun and I know both teams are excited about it."
The Flames - who, for whatever reason, have produced all sorts of drama at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena - tied the game with 0.1 seconds left on the clock before Elias Lindholm struck for the OT winner. The tilt featured a pair of fights and 74 (!) hits as the teams were gearing up for a possible first-round matchup. The players were literally buzzing in their postgame press conference, with Milan Lucic saying it was a Top-5 game he'd ever played in.

Ultimately, the clubs did not meet again in the spring, so tonight will be the first time the two sides will renew pleasantries since that electric night on Broadway.
And it could be just the tonic for a Flames team that's looking to bounce back after a loss only 48 hours ago.
"I think our compete in general just needs to go up," Dube said. "We've had a good two out of three periods most nights, (but) playing a full 60 is what is killing us right now. We need to build off our starts and keep that going throughout the game.
"It's just resetting every time you come to the bench. We need to keep the momentum going in our favour and that's just staying even-keel throughout the game. There's a lot of highs and lows throughout it, whether it's powerplay, penalty kill, or momentum swings regardless of which end of it you're on.
"That goes for 5-on-5 as well. If they have a great shift in our end, it's how we bounce back and be able to swing momentum our way. There are a lot of things that go back-and-forth throughout a game, but I think you need to keep the momentum and have really good bounce-back shifts."

Clearly, the forwards have taken heed of what their head coach is preaching.
On Wednesday, Darryl Sutter explained that he wants them to be more "predictable" to one another. They've gotten away from that over the past few games, resulting in miscommunication and costly turnovers.
For a team whose identity is built around puck possession and shot volume, it's something they want to shore up as quickly as possible.
"It's just keeping it simple to a certain point, but I think it's also that communication you have with your linemates and helping each other out," Dube said. "'Predictable' means winning your battles and knowing that that guy is going to come out with the puck so you can be in position for a chance.
"I think our battle level can go up, but it's a new challenge tonight.
"It's exciting."