LEADING THE CHARGE

Content to be a passenger? Pony up for a CTrain pass.
Wallflowers, find yourself another ballroom. Over-sensitivity is not an option.
The moment for hand-on-the-Bible honesty, unflinching accountability, is already here.
That's the only way through with ground to make up and time ticking away.

"We need everyone contributing on the ice, off the ice, and in the room,'' declared captain Mark Giordano Thursday, as he and his Flames steeled themselves for another 10-bell test, the San Jose Sharks, at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday evening.
"We've just gotta be honest with each other at certain points. And we are. I think we have a good group.
"We're not afraid to let each other know what we're thinking. And it's been like that all year. We've got to continue to do that.
"It's so important at this time of year.
"If you're just doing it for the sake of doing it … there are certain times when it's needed and there's certain times you've got to go out and lead by example.
"There's a part of it, too, when you say something you'd better go out there and back it up.
"Believe in what you say and go do it, guys respect that."
From a personnel standpoint, the influential Matthew Tkachuk won't draw back in to face the Sharks, Kris Versteeg is back practicing but not a certainty to make a first appearance after missing 48 games following hip surgery, while Sean Monahan, once again absent from practice due to "maintenance" issues, is set to go.
"When guys care, when guys want to win, you can see it,'' said Giordano. "You can feel it. We're not speaking up trying to call each other out, by any means. But when things need to be said I think we have a good group who can hold each other accountable in here.
"You have to play the right way at this time of year. You're not going to win games going up and down the ice and outscoring teams. You're going to win 2-1, 3-2 most nights.
"We know how to play in those games, we know how to grind."
This is the time leaders play such an important role.
"I saw it when I came in with Iggy and Retro (Rhett Warrener) and Reggie (Robyn Regehr),'' said Giordano, harkening back to his younger self. "They were not afraid to say what they thought necessary to teammates, to the coaches.
"No one was being negative or anything. It's just about wanting to win."
Winning at the moment happens to be non-negotiable.
"We've got our veteran guys stepping up,'' said head coach Glen Gulutzan. "And there's been some squabbles, which is good, meaning guys are pushing each other on the bench. There's some emotion there. And you know when you're in a good spot with your group when they're buddies, going out to eat at night, yet getting a little heated on the bench. 'You gotta change quicker!' Things like that.
"When your veteran players are the ones pulling and challenging and pushing …
"Matt Stajan has become really vocal here in the last little bit. Gio's stepped up in that department; his game has stepped up.
"I like that part of it. They're not dividing up into cliques. And we're a real close group and starting to get some real good push from our veterans."
Friday's tilt is the second of a make-or-break six-game run against Pacific Division foes. The 1-0 blue-collar victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday should be a blueprint moving forward.
"I liked our mindset last game, that's for sure,'' agreed Giordano. "Right from our goalie on out we were going to do whatever it took to get those two points.
"That's what we need to do every night for 11 nights now. You have to have that mentality."
Adaptability. Resiliency. Stubbornness.
Once again, they'll all be essential ingredients against the Sharks.
"San Jose's done a heckuva job,'' praised Gulutzan. "They've had Big Joe (Thornton) out for a while. He's obviously an engine for them but they just keep going, keep pushing.
"Every night they seem to have a line playing well.
"Their young players are playing a real good, solid grind game. So we're going to have to get into that with them."