'BACK' AT IT

It was an absolute clinic.
A stunning, solo display that marvelled the masses, including his teammates looking on from the bench.
For some, it would take an entire season to build up a tape like that.
For Mikael Backlund, it was all in a night's work.

"He was great last night," admired Johnny Gaudreau, who over the past few weeks, earned his own fair share of the spotlight. "Throughout the whole game, he was our best player.
"He was great on the PK and scored a big goal for us in the first to make it a 1-1 game.
"I think he was all over the ice last night."
'Rare' doesn't begin to describe it.
When a single player struts out and completely outworks the opposition powerplay, we take notice. When that same player does it again and again, outlandishly putting up numbers that would make even the game's most talented stars blush? That's another matter, altogether.
In almost eight minutes of powerplay time, the Blues managed only four shots on goal - one, beating Jacob Markstrom late in the third period, with the result well in hand.
Prior to that, they were limp. Uninspired.
Entirely outclassed.
Backlund, himself, had five shot attempts (including two on goal), four individual chances, and two from the high-danger locations. He hammered the post on one of them as he fought for his own rebound after Ville Husso robbed him on one of his three odd-man attacks - one, a partial break.
This all came on the penalty-kill, and after scoring the Flames' opening strike to give the esteemed pivot goals in back-to-back tilts.
Simply, No. 11 was a Man on a Mission.
And has been for three games now.
"It was great to see him get rewarded there and score," said Gaudreau, who had a six-game point spree (2G, 12A) come to an end Thursday. "He could have had a few more last night. He had six (or) seven shots, hit the post on that one. We need him to keep playing like that.
"He's a big part of our team, he's a great player and I love watching him play when he plays like that."
Admittedly, things haven't come easy for the revered veteran this year. Prior to this current, three-game point streak, the 32-year-old accrued had 12 points in his first 36 games.
And after the morning skate Thursday, Head Coach Darryl Sutter explained to the media what he expected of him, as the team looks to establish more consistent production on the bottom three forward lines.
"He has to be better," Sutter explained. "We can't have guys playing 15-18 minutes with three or four goals, especially in that position. Not going to beat around about it.
"He's a good player and he has to produce."
Then, asked if he's seen progress in that regard, Sutter was forthright with that, too.
"Yes," he replied.
That shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.
Backlund is one of the proudest players in the Flames locker-room. He knew he had another gear - another level to get to - and that the team is counting on him to be an impact player if they want to make the playoffs and go on a deep run.
When he's on, he brings so much: The ability to match up and shut down some of the top players on the circuit; the speed; prowess in the dot; the innate, offensive flair that makes him a dual threat off the rush; the capacity to maneuver, to navigate in tight spaces and make plays with the best of 'em on the powerplay.
And, of course, the pièce de resistance - that magnificent talent and feel for the moment when down a man.
Only Elias Lindholm has played more PK minutes. But together, they form a big part the Flames' 83.3% kill (6th in the NHL).
We see it all in practice - the way that Backlund diligently works at his craft and repeatedly empties the tanks, all in an effort to get better.
Sure, it hasn't always come easy for him this year.
But this is a pro's pro we're talking about.
The effort - along with all 22 shots he's fired on net in the past three games - doesn't go unnoticed.
"Everyone goes through stretches in seasons when the puck's not going your way or you're not getting the puck luck and the bounces," Gaudreau said of his longest-serving teammate. "You feel like you're stuck in the D zone a little too much. We've all been through that before.
"The best way to get out of it is to try and find a quick goal. He found one in Columbus and he scored again (Thursday).
"He's playing well for us right now and we need him to keep playing like that."