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The Calgary Flames figured Andrei Kuzmenko may present a lift for his or her struggling power-play.
He didn’t waste any time proving them proper.
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On simply his second shift in a Flames uniform, Kuzmenko launched himself with a depraved wrist-shot for a man-advantage marker.
The Russian right-winger unleashed a celebratory scream, then flashed a mega-watt smile that his new teammates — and an adoring fan-base — are hoping to see on a frequent foundation.
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“It’s a very good feeling,” Kuzmenko beamed after Tuesday’s 4-1 conquer the Boston Bruins at TD Backyard. “Good feeling as a result of we win. It’s good. I prefer it.”
On this evening, there was an entire lot to love.
Jonathan Huberdeau scored on a top-shelf sizzler and added a pair of main assists — a type of on Kuzmenko’s first as a Flame — in what was his most dynamic efficiency in months.
Nazem Kadri was additionally credited with three factors, together with a candy feed that led to a slick end by his rookie sidekick Connor Zary.
Blue-line addition Brayden Pachal, two days after being claimed off the waiver-wire, made his presence recognized with six hits.
And the Flames, collectively, restricted their hosts to solely 22 pictures on internet. The Bruins’ lone strike got here on a five-on-three benefit, and Jacob Markstrom was ready to cease that earlier than an unfortunate deflection off the stick of certainly one of his personal penalty-killers.
“A pack of hyenas can take down a lion,” Kadri advised reporters after the Flames handed the Bruins solely their fifth regulation lack of this season of their residence rink. “That’s the kind of mentality we want is enjoying as a group and everybody chipping in. And once we do this, we will accomplish nice issues.”
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The Vancouver Canucks, now perched alone atop the general standings, consider they will accomplish nice issues.
That’s why they have been supplied a considerable package deal — together with their first-round draft choose and a pair of defence prospects — to land Elias Lindholm in a blockbuster swap with the Flames final week. (Lindholm cashed two objectives Tuesday in his first twirl along with his new crew.)
Kuzmenko, partially due to his US$5.5-million cap hit, was deemed by the West Coasters to be an expendable piece. The fan-fave ahead, after being promised a extra outstanding function in Calgary, waived his no-trade safety to approve the transfer.
Whereas Flames normal supervisor Craig Conroy made this deal primarily with a give attention to the longer term, there have been speedy returns Tuesday in Boston. It’s not typically {that a} salary-dump comes with this form of skill-set.
The brand new man in No. 96 debuted alongside Huberdeau and Yegor Sharangovich on Calgary’s first line. He was among the many personnel on the highest power-play unit.
On his first shift, the 28-year-old Kuzmenko discovered Huberdeau within the slot for a wide-open look. Earlier than he’d even been again to the bench, he peeled away from a verify and spied an in-stride Rasmus Andersson for one more scoring alternative.
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His power-play tally, which got here simply 4:20 seconds into Tuesday’s tilt, was a first-rate instance of the deadly shot that made him a star within the KHL after which a 39-goal man in his first marketing campaign in Vancouver. He didn’t look, as he lasered a glove-side providing previous Jeremy Swayman, like a man who had didn’t gentle a single lamp within the remaining five-plus weeks of his Canucks profession. He now has 9 snipes on the season and 48 in his 125 loggings on the NHL degree.
Kuzmenko later danced round Hampus Lindholm, a man who is just not straightforward dipsy-doodle. He practically arrange Huberdeau for a third-period tap-in on a give-and-go.
And little question conscious of the questions that adopted him from Vancouver, with some saying he’s defensively poor or worse, defensively disinterested, he was clearly dedicated to making an attempt to do the appropriate issues in his personal finish. At one level, he fended off a verify from Bruins captain Brad Marchand to haul a puck into impartial territory.
“We need to play as a lot time of their zone, so we don’t play defence,” Huberdeau advised reporters after the victory over the Bruins. “That’s our objective. To start with, now we have to consider defence. That’s what we did tonight. We’ve got to maintain doing that.”
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Throughout a post-game scrum, Kuzmenko insisted he hasn’t given up on the considered skating within the NHL’s spring dance.
“I stated earlier than season, I need to play to playoffs,” he stated. “And I strive. Each recreation is slightly step, step, step.”
The Flames (23-22-5) are dealing with a steep climb, particularly with the chance that they may commerce away two key defencemen in Noah Hanifin — he logged a team-high 25:46 and scored a power-play objective of his personal in his hometown of Boston — and Chris Tanev.
However it will assist if Kuzmenko stays as harmful as he was Tuesday in his group debut.
“It’s not an excessive amount of good,” he protested. “As a result of we had lots of probabilities and we want extra objectives as my line. It’s good, a very good line. It’s an excellent connection. Each shift, there’s discuss. I prefer it.
“Sharangovich and Huberdeau are actually nice gamers, and the power-play is sweet. I hope, I hope, there’s good outcomes.”
He’s not alone there.
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