Delay doesn't derail Flames practice
The Flames skate was pushed back due to an ice issue on Monday
by Aaron Vickers @AAVickers / CalgaryFlames.com
CALGARY, AB -- Call it a case of the Mondays.
And not the way you'd want to kick off your week, either.
The Calgary Flames practice was delayed almost an hour on Monday morning as a crew worked to cure an ice issue behind the home net.
"It's obviously a little bit of a coach's nightmare to have that," Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said. "But we modified it. I thought our guys executed pretty well after sitting there waiting for 45 minutes. They sometimes can get restless sitting in that locker room if things aren't on time.
"I thought we did a good job. We modified a few things.
"Is it the day we wanted to have? No. But you have to deal with things like that."
It happens.
But the delay, a 48-minute wait-and-see that pushed practice into the early afternoon, was of no concern to forward Michael Frolik.
"A couple guys went to watch TV a little bit in the lounge," he said.
"Half of the room, we just sat here with our skates on and tried to kill time a little bit with a chat or listening to music. I already tied my skates so I didn't want to do it again. I just kept them on for maybe half an hour.
"It was alright.
"It definitely took a little bit of time but it's how you deal sometimes. I think the practice was alright. It just took a little bit too long. It's still alright. It's not crazy late. There's no issue and no excuses.
"We're just ready for tomorrow."
The Flames squeezed in some work at the far end, including a special teams rotation and battle drills away from the affected area in Calgary's end, in preparation for hosting the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; SNW, SN960).
His crew, Gulutzan decided, did well with the wait.
"It's mental for them," he said. "It just throws them off their routine.
"It's hard.
"Have you ever been in a classroom when the teacher walks out for a while and then comes back in? You have to get order set. That's kind of what it was like.
"Our leadership did a good job. They were crisp in a lot of things they did."