'RECIPE FOR SUCCESS'

Individually, the points have been at a premium.
But when you're 3-1 in the win/loss column, are in the thick of a playoff race, and are moulding a hard-working, take-no-prisoners approach under Darryl Sutter, Johnny Gaudreau isn't the least bit concerned.
Wins are all that matter.

"Obviously, we're trying to change our identity," Gaudreau said following Friday's morning skate in Toronto. "We want to work harder and be more effective that way.
"All four lines are going, everyone's playing well, and we're getting pucks in deep, trying to retrieve pucks and playing in their zone a little more.
"Whether I'm comfortable with it or not (personally), that's our team, that's our system right now and you have to adapt. It doesn't matter what coach you're playing for, you have to play the right way.
"Offensively, I haven't found the net too much in the past few games, but we're 3-1. The Edmonton game didn't go the way we wanted, but if you're 3-1 in four games with the new guy, that's definitely a recipe for success."

Sutter has said his team doesn't have the explosive tendencies that say, the Maple Leafs or the Oilers have, but if the Flames buy in, play to their strengths and limit the unforced errors, they can run with any team in the division.
In terms of firepower, the Flames have weapons, with Gaudreau - a former 99-point player - and the top goal-scorer from the 2013 Draft in Sean Monahan, who has never had fewer than 22 goals in a season and could probably tuck 30 with his eyes closed here his prime.
Sutter knows that and respects what those two have to offer on that side of the ledger.
He just feels there's another gear they can get to.
"They are high-end skill players and they've done that in the past," he said. "I think it's just a little bit more of their shot volume, shot quality, pace of game, 200-foot game. It's not just pond hockey.
"And again, I said that because of this division, you've got the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are tied for first and they play a complete game. Their top players have made that adjustment to play a complete game. You have to try and emulate those teams to have any success here."

In fact, we've already seen what some of those adjustments can lead to.
Last week, Monahan scored twice against the Montreal Canadiens - including one that was the result of unrelenting forecheck, allowing him and Brett Ritchie to win a battle, spin off contact, bring to the puck to the front and make a precision shot over the left shoulder of Habs goalie Carey Price.
That forecheck not only caught the attention of many, but it gave the Monahan the confidence to play - and enjoy success - that way under this revamped identity.
But again, it all traces back to commitment and work ethic - not some mystical, systematic transformation.
This way, everyone wins.
"We know what we are as a team and talking about it (internally), everybody's got to play a role here and you've got to carry your own weight and support each other," Monahan said. "We know how we have to win, and that's checking, protecting the puck and being heavy with it and that's when we have success.
"I think we're just trying to limit turnovers, playing quicker and get pucks behind," he added of his line with Gaudreau and Ritchie. "We're trying to generate and hold pucks more in their end and, I mean, if you get chances off the rush, you're going to take it. If they're not there, we've got to continue to play the right way and try and drive and create offence that way. That's something we're going to continue to do here."

With the Leafs on tap tonight in the first of back-to-back tilts in the Big Smoke, the Flames will have to do just that. It's critical they put a 7-3 loss behind them and get back what made them successful in the first three under Sutter.
With Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and the first-place Buds on the other side, they can't afford not to.
"When you're playing against a team that has that kind of skill, you don't want to let them have any touches and you've got to stay out of the penalty box," Monahan said. "You can't lose games like that (on Wednesday), and we know that. That's the message.
"We've got to stick to our game plan. We know what we're up against and we've played them quite a few times already. We want to set the tone ourselves, get the puck behind them, have the puck more than them, be heavy in their end and keep an eye out when those top players are on the ice.
"It's going to be a good challenge and one we're looking forward to."