'WE'RE EXPECTING A GOOD GAME'

You know that feeling when you wake up and have no idea where you are - or even what day it is?
Yeah, it's kind of like that.
After what's been a dizzying 36 hours for everyone around the Flames, you couldn't fault them for climbing out of bed this morning and feeling a bit flummoxed: 'Oooh right … it's game day!'
A Battle of Alberta game day, no less.
So here we are, on the heels of the most newsworthy day in years around these parts, but the North never sleeps.

"I think (the players) are feeling pretty good this morning," said Assistant Coach Ryan Huska, who will be manning the bench tonight as new head coach Darryl Sutter completes COVID protocol. "There has been a lot that has gone on, as all know, but I also think they understand that there's an opportunity now in front of them, and they are under a microscope right now.
"The challenge that they have is to come out and play to their capabilities tonight.
"I mentioned yesterday, what we want to do is to put ourselves in a good position for when Darryl joins us, and we're looking for the effort that we think our players can put forward tonight, and we're expecting a good game."
It's easy to forget the Flames are coming off a 7-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday and have plenty to feel good about as they look to march forward in the Canadian playoff race.
The Oilers, meanwhile, are reeling after suffering three consecutive losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this week, while being outscored 13-1 in the process. In a rarity, Connor McDavid was held pointless and Leon Draisaitl recorded just an assist in the trio of tilts.
"We expect them to be hungry," said Sean Monahan. "We know what we're up against. We've got to stay out of the penalty box, because you don't want to get their top guys a bunch of touches on the powerplay early. We've played this team a lot, it's going to be an intense game, and we want to set the tone right from the puck drop."
Sutter will arrive at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Monday and run the players through their first set of drills the following day when the Flames return to practice.
Until then, there's work to be done, and two valuable points are up for grabs at 8 p.m. tonight.

"We have to try and put the coaching change behind us tonight," said Johnny Gaudreau, who picked up an assist in Thursday's victory. "We're playing in front of Ryan Huska here tonight and we've got to bring a lot of the tendencies from last game into this game, worry about tonight, then worry about Ottawa the next day, and then worry about getting off to a fresh start with Darryl on Tuesday."
While a mid-season coaching change is usually an indication that things aren't going to plan, Gaudreau is excited about the addition of a two-time Cup winner behind the bench.
Sutter, who you can bet will be keeping a close eye on tonight's game from his farm in Viking, Alta., demands respect and has a history of holding his players accountable.
"That's something we need here," Gaudreau said. "I think some of our best years here in Calgary - at least when me and Mony were here - were when we had coaches that demanded a lot out of us and a lot of the top players, and held is accountable if we weren't playing well.
"If we're not playing well or giving the team our best effort, we need someone to let us know, sit us down and make sure we do know that, because it's important for us to try and help our team win games and when we're not going, it's unacceptable. I've heard a lot of great things about Darryl as well. I'm really looking forward to the chance to work with him. I think he's going to come in and help our team, and push us in the right direction."

Monahan agrees, adding that when Sutter takes over next week, the expectations will be clear.
In fact, the coach's directive has already been heard.
Loud and clear.
"He's here to win," Monahan said. "You can see the intensity in him. … He's going to be a guy that's going to help us drive to where we want to get.
"I hold myself to my own expectations and I want those to be high. So, when you've got a guy behind the bench that's going to be hard on you, that's going to make you a better player. If your top guys are going, you're going to have a chance every night.
"When you have a guy pushing you like that, that goes a long way.
"Our game is going to change and we're going to look like a different team. That's going to push us in the right direction, and that starts tonight."