Breakthrough performance keeps Morrison in lineup

CALGARY -- When Brendan Morrison was inserted onto the Flames' top line in place of flu-stricken forward Curtis Glencross Tuesday, all coach Brent Sutter wanted was for the veteran to come in and play a role.

That role turned out to be scoring two goals and adding a pair of assists in a wild 7-6 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Though it's earned him another start in the lineup -- his first back-to-back games since Nov. 23-25 -- Morrison knows he doesn't need another four-point outing to stay in the lineup.

"I've been around long enough that the odds are that's not going to happen," Morrison said. "If we can find other ways to contribute, whether it is to win faceoffs or create chances for my linemates, it doesn't matter as long as we win games."

Though he found chemistry on the wing with Olli Jokinen and Jarome Iginla against Carolina, Morrison will move back to center between Alex Tanguay and Rene Bourque tonight against the Colorado Avalanche.

With Glencross back in the lineup, rookie Roman Horak will sit.

Sutter hopes it will be a learning experience for the 20-year-old, who has 2 goals and 9 points in 25 games this season.

"Roman's a young player, and like all young players there's certain things in his game he needs to continue to work on and maybe slipped a little and we want to get it back where he needs to," Sutter said. "There are a couple things I want him to watch tonight and see the game. It's good for young players to do -- to watch the game and get a different perspective, a different view on it."

FLAMES
Curtis Glencross - Olli Jokinen - Jarome Iginla
Alex Tanguay - Brendan Morrison - Rene Bourque
Blake Comeau - Mikael Backlund - Lee Stempniak
Tom Kostopoulos - Matt Stajan - Tim Jackman

Chris Butler - Jay Bouwmeester
T.J. Brodie - Scott Hannan
Derek Smith - Joe Piskula

Miikka Kiprusoff
Leland Irving

Back to top