'IT'S SPECIAL, IT'S SURREAL'

DENVER - As Nazem Kadri stepped onto the ice at Ball Arena, the first thing he did was look up.
There, up high in the rafters, was the banner in all its glory: 2022 Stanley Cup Champions.
A banner and a championship that Kadri had his hands all over, scoring big goals each round in a memorable playoff run.

"It's special, it's surreal really," Kadri said. "To think that's going to be hanging there forever. It's a special moment. I think that's when the realization set in seeing that banner hang.
"Some unforgettable moments, met some great people and it's a place that I'll never forget."
Even once Lord Stanley was hoisted up, the moments didn't stop as Kadri brought the cup to his hometown and at the London Muslim Mosque.
"It was incredible," he said. "That was one of my favourite memories out of all this. "Just to bring it to where it was never brought before and to be the first person to achieve something is obviously something special.
"Just to see the youth and the kids that came out and supported, they were in awe to see the cup at the mosque. That's something for future generations."

Tonight will mark the first game back in Denver for Kadri since he signed a seven-year deal with the Flames this past off-season.
While the Avs cup run is still fresh in his memory and forever engraved in history, Kadri and the rest of the squad are focused on getting two important points as the Flames look to end a three-game road swing on a high note.
"You just try to turn the page as soon as possible," he said. "But when you win somewhere, I don't think the page can really be turned because you just think about it so much, it's such a unique opportunity and playing with some great players, great people, met some friends for life.
"I'm definitely going to enjoy it. It's going to be emotional and special, for sure, but these are important points. We're here to try and win hockey games against a great team. That's our main focus tonight."
Every game at this point of the season already has that playoff-like feel. It's must-win territory and with players like Kadri who have been there to win it all, they know there's still a lot of hockey left to be played.
And as he put it in front of a packed scrum of reporters in the Flames locker-room, the club has the tools to not just make it into the postseason, but make a run as well.
"Just try to bear down as much as possible," he said. "Those timely goals and timely saves are something that is huge in a playoff run. To win games you got to score and keep pucks out of your night in a timely fashion.
"We have a lot of attributes in the dressing room already, the accountability factor is huge. When it's not coming from the coaches and coming from inside the dressing room among teammates. Just holding each other accountable, it's a very good intangible to have.
"Good teams, it's really preached on from the coaching staff; great teams. it's preached from the locker-room and from the guys sitting next to you.
"We have definitely implemented that here."