'He's Doing Really Well'

LAS VEGAS — There’s a lot more to Matt Coronato’s game than goals and assists.

Yes, he’s got one of the more lethal shots on the Flames roster and yes, he got into his second career NHL scrap last week against Colorado’s Zachary L’Heureux, but it turns out the Long Islander can take a mean face-off, too.

It’s all part of a strategy for Calgary’s top line to be more assertive on draws and six games into the new season, it’s showing positive signs.

As of Wednesday, the Flames ranked just a shade under 50% in overall face-off prowess, but Coronato and his linemate - centreman Morgan Frost - are making things work on their strong sides in the dot. 

Coronato is a right-handed shot, while Frost shoots left, and according to Frost, Coronato is becoming more confident - and successful - when called upon.

“It's huge. You see other teams that do it, and I know as a centre when I would go take draws against, say we're matched up with a line, and they have guys that are only take them on their strong sides,” Frost explained earlier this week, when asked about his line’s strong-side strategy. “It's such an advantage, and I saw it firsthand when I first played in the league with Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier, they were both like 63%.  

“So that's something I tried to get Matty to take a lot last year. And he would maybe lose, you know, his first two and then be like, ‘Oh, I can't take them anymore.’ But then this year he started off well, and sometimes I'm out there and I just go line up on the wing. Now, he wants to take them and he's doing really well.”

So well, in fact, that Coronato’s 61.5% win rate to start the season is tops on the team (for players with 20 or more attempts). He’s even better in the offensive zone - 68.2% - meaning that line can almost count on possession when lining up in the opposing team’s end.

“Frosty's obviously a lefty, and I'm a righty, so to always have one of us on our strong side, I think, is a benefit,” Coronato said Wednesday. “For him (Frost) to have confidence in me to be able to take a few is nice. 

“I just want to keep working on it and get better at it.”

That acquired skill in the face-off circle is emblematic, too, of what Coronato brings to the table. A diligent worker, his effort is noticeable on the practice ice and in games, and for Flames Head Coach Ryan Huska, his diverse portfolio is a testament to that mindset.

“It's something Matt understands is a big part of his game now, especially in powerplay situations,” Huska said Monday, shortly before the team jetted south for this two-game jaunt that continues Thursday against the Golden Knights (8 p.m. MT, Sportsnet 1). “If we're struggling against someone, you want to have the option to go to the other side, if you can. 

“I think Matt’s a really diligent guy. He works very hard at his game, and that's just another example of it.”

Given the offensive capabilities the trio of Frost, Coronato and Aydar Suniev have displayed, it’s safe to say they’ll get their fair share of O-zone looks as the season continues. 

The trio has combined for five goals over Calgary’s last five games, including a Suniev marker in Tuesday’s second period that helped the Flames erase an early deficit in that 4-2 win over the Ducks.

And as they continue, Frost explained, the added advantage of having two capable face-off men will come down to not only strong sides, but feel, too.

For Coronato, it’s also part of that continued development, becoming an even more crucial part of this year’s group than even last season, a year that saw him lead the Flames in scoring.

“I don't know if you'll notice, but in that in the 6-on-5 (last Saturday at home against Anaheim), I took the first one, lost it, and then they iced it,” recalled Frost. “And the second time we went down, we went to Matty’s side. I think that shows that he's got some confidence in it.

“He kind of waits to see where I'm going to go line up. And if I line up on the wing, he knows he's taking the face-off.”