'I'M EXCITED TO GET OUT THERE'

It reads like a horror story.
(For Canucks fans.)
From the steely-eyed greatness of Jacob Markstrom between the pipes, to the guttural - unimpeachable - results from Chris Tanev on the backend, the former west-coast stalwarts had their way with their old 'mates last year.
Now, the boys in red have added to the arsenal.
Erik Gudbranson and the 'Canuck Killer' himself - Tyler Toffoli - are part of the club now, too.
And nothing stokes a rivalry like a return to the old stomping grounds.

"It's going to be the first time back with fans in the arena, so I'm excited," said Toffoli, who has two goals in four games as a Flame, including an empty-netter in Monday's dub over the Jets. "At the end of the day, we came here for a reason - to get a win - and I'm excited to get out there."
Toffoli was traded to Vancouver in February of 2020, and was an immediate hit with his teammate and the ravenous Canucks faithful. He had 10 points (6G, 4A) in 10 regular-season dates, before adding another four points (2G, 2A) in seven playoff games.
He then signed a four-year, free-agent contract with the Montreal Canadiens later that fall, before torching the Canucks for 13 points (8G, 5A) in eight head-to-head meetings last year.
But now, he's in Calgary after a trade with the Habs 10 days ago.
They can't shake the guy!
The Flames and Canucks have another three meetings on tap, including tonight at Rogers Arena (8 p.m. MT, Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 THE FAN), and you can bet Toffoli is fired up to see his old team again.

"I think it's good for them," Head Coach Darryl Sutter said of the return, which will likely include a tribute video for some or all of the returnees tonight. "They've all had some success here. ... They're all good players for us in terms of character and leadership. I think know how to play on the road and I'm sure they'll be excited to play tonight."
Certainly, they'll have their work cut out for them. The Canucks are playing an inspired brand of hockey right now, and are 16-7-4 under Bruce Boudreau, who replaced Travis Green as head coach back on Dec. 5, 2021.
The Flames, meanwhile, are on the prowl for a franchise record 11th straight win.
In a span dating back to Jan. 29 - fittingly, against these very same Canucks - the Flames have out-scored the opposition 42-15 and have won games in a variety of different ways.
Markstrom, for example, has been lights-out with a .945 save percentage and a league-low, 1.50 goals-against average. The top line is buzzing, with Johnny Gaudreau entering the fray as a legitimate Hart Trophy contender, and Elias Lindholm going OFF on a career-long, eight-game goal streak.
The second line with Andrew Mangiapane, Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman has been absolute thorn for their opponents to grapple with. The bottom six has come through with some big goals, and the blueline has done everything (and more) asked of them in a shutdown capacity.
Tanev, specifically, has been absolute monster, having been on the ice for only one goal against in all situations (and a mind-blowing 14 for) over the past 10 outings.
Everything's clicking right now.
And Toffoli figures to be a big part of it, too.
"I'm honestly trying to fit in and do the things that I'm asked to be doing," he said. "Obviously, things have been going pretty smooth and we've been winning games and playing some good hockey, so we've got to keep going."