Flames apologize for violating team rules

CALGARY -- Calgary Flames forwards Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Lance Bouma each apologized to teammates, fans and the organization Wednesday after serving as healthy scratches for disciplinary reasons in Calgary's 4-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs the night before.

"You have to pay the consequences," Gaudreau said. "I think all three of us are really upset with ourselves. We want to apologize to the organization, the coaches, our team especially, and the city of Calgary and the fans. They come to watch us play every single night. For us not to show up like that and miss a game like that, it's not professional on our part."

Gaudreau, Monahan and Bouma reportedly arrived late to Scotiabank Saddledome prior to practice Monday.

"Obviously, the other day we made a mistake," said Monahan, an alternate captain. "It's the first and last time that's going to happen. We'd like to apologize to the fans especially, but also to teammates, the organization, and we're going to get back on track and be professionals and do everything the right way from now on.

"It's tough. I'm a young guy and I'm a leader on this team. I've got to step up and take that back and earn that respect again."

Gaudreau, 22, is tied for 10th in NHL scoring with 49 points. His 21 goals and 28 assists lead the Flames. Monahan, 21, is second with 16 goals and 35 points in 51 games. Bouma, 25, has one goal in 17 games this season.

"We're not happy with it," Bouma said. "We made a mistake and we're all human. It's disappointing that it had to happen and that everyone has to know about it, but it's something that we're not happy about. We're embarrassed about it and we want to move on from it. It's tough, for sure. We made the mistake and we have to live with the consequences of it, for sure.

"We have a responsibility to be here for practices and make sure we're here on time. It's disappointing we let our teammates down, for sure."

The trio was scratched for violating team rules, Hartley said after the game Tuesday.

"It was very simple," Hartley said. "We established team rules at the start of the season. We're a very proud hockey club. We have built what we believe to be a very strong culture and that goes for everyone.

"I know people say, 'It's the top two scorers.' It's not the players. It's not about the people involved. It's about the Calgary Flames. It was tough. It was tough because you can't get three better young men. They're proud of representing this community. They're easy to coach and everything, but when you make a mistake, we have to be accountable and we have to be fair to everyone."

After several prompts Wednesday, Hartley was quick to end any further discussion about the disciplinary action.

"[It's] business as usual," Hartley said. "It's the same. It's done. We've moved past this. They were on the ice yesterday. They were on the ice today. It's business as usual. You guys [media] are creating a tsunami in a fishbowl.

"Elvis is dead. The Beatles split. Today is a new day.

"I understand my English is not always the best, but the story is over. Make this the front headlines of all your papers, your radio shows, your TV crews. The story is over."

All three forwards are expected to be available when Calgary starts a two-game Pacific Division road trip against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday (10:30 p.m. ET; SN360, CSN-CA, NHL.TV).

The Flames, sixth in the Pacific, trail the third-place Anaheim Ducks by eight points. Calgary is also seven points back of the Colorado Avalanche, who hold the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.

"We've got a big road trip here and this is something that we've each got to put behind us," Gaudreau said. "We've got to make sure it doesn't happen again. We've got to worry about hockey now, focus on hockey and get back to trying to win and move up in the standings here, and try to get into a playoff position for the Flames.

"It's tough to watch the guys play without you being on the ice. I think the only way…the best apology for us three is to come out against San Jose and have our best game of the season and help this team win and help this team move up in the standings. We had a pretty sincere apology but the best apology would be helping this team win as much as possible and playing our best hockey the rest of the season."