FLAMES REWIND - 12.11.17

Perhaps the only thing more impressive than Jaromir Jagr's career stats is his work ethic.
After scoring his 766th goal - and first as a Flame - in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings at the Scotiabank Saddledome, Jagr did what you'd expect any 45-year-old to do after such a big game: he hit the gym.

"Last night he's here … first star … and I'm almost getting ready to leave and he's still doing some stickhandling stuff in the gym," said coach Glen Gulutzan on Friday. "All that stuff … the young guys get by listening to him and playing with him and then watching him and getting some by osmosis too, right, just cause you're around that kind of guy.
"If they want to play until they're 45 they might want to take some notes."
But don't challenge the 24-season NHL veteran to a game of 'who last's longer in the gym.'
"I think the only guy I think that can outlast him is (strength coach Ryan Van Asten)," Gulutzan said.
"Because he has to turn the lights out when Jags leaves.
"That's about it."
As Gulutzan pointed out, the effect No. 68 has on the team - and his linemates - can't be underestimated.
"He loves the game, and when you've done what he's done, people listen," Gulutzan said. "On the bench you can see the guys looking at him and nodding, especially young [Sam Bennett] and [Mark Jankowski]."
He's also energized the Flames faithful since arriving here, bringing the crowd to its feet for a thunderous and lengthy standing ovation after he scored.
"Of course any first goal for any team is special, especially in Canada," Jagr said postgame. "I can see how much the fans appreciate it, hockey, how much they love hockey. Since the first day I've signed here they have been so good to me, so I try to play my best."

ONE-TIMERS

Touching moment earlier this week with the Flames inviting the family of Tara Roe, the Okotoks woman who died in the Las Vegas shootings, to practice. Her boys, Louis and Lennon, took to the ice at the tail end of practice in a moment bigger than the sport … Another congrats, to Flames alumnus Lanny McDonald, on being inducted into the Canada Sports Hall of Fame in Toronto on Thursday … Really though, how much fun was Thursday night? … Best chirps in Calgary's dressing room this season? Early favourite is Eddie Lack … Not a bad couple games for prospect Dillon Dube. He led the Team WHL leg of the Canada-Russia Series with two goals and five points in four games … Matthew Phillips had one goal in two games, as well … Welcome back, Rasmus Andersson … Stick tap to Frida Engstrom and Mikael Backlund for an incredibly successful Uncorked for ALS charity event Friday night … Congrats to Lauren, Jack and Mark Giordano on the birth of Reese Everly Giordano, who was born in the wee hours Thursday morning, weighing in at seven pounds, 13 ounces.

SNAP SHOT

Seeing Jagr's first goal with the Flames was nice, Gulutzan admitted.
The icing on the coach's cake, though, came with a goal Jagr assisted on - Jankowski's first NHL marker.
"I thought it was pretty neat last night, and I'm not saying I'm getting old in the league, but seven years here and I've had [Jagr]. I watched him get his 1,000th assist … it was pretty special in Dallas," said Gulutzan. "I was really happy for Janks. That's what kind of caught me. If I'm a guy that spent five years after I'm drafted, did everything right and I score my first goal after, I dunno, five or six NHL games and Jaromir Jagr assists on it…I thought that was pretty neat."
Jankowski scored, ahem, off his midsection at 9:15 of the first period against Detroit when a rebound on Jagr's initial shot was kicked out in his direction.
"I was worried after that goal about making sure that Janks got the puck, to be honest with you. That's what I was thinking. I asked Wheels, the linesman, 'Did we get that puck?' 'You already got it, Gully.' I thought that was a pretty neat moment for him."

BACKHANDS

TUESDAY: Dougie Hamilton, Johnny Gaudreau, and Micheal Ferland scored and Mike Smith made 16 saves in a 5-3 loss against the Vancouver Canucks at Scotiabank Saddledome.
THURSDAY: Jagr scored his first goal with the Flames, Jankowski scored his first NHL goal, and Gaudreau had two goals and an assist in a 6-3 win against the Detroit Red Wings on home ice.