The Calgary Flames lost their season debut Thursday night, however it didn’t derail general manager Brad Treliving’s optimism for this season – specifically his confidence in new starting goalie Jacob Markstrom.
“He works as hard as any goaltender I’ve ever been around – any player I’ve ever been around, never mind goaltender,” Treliving said Friday during an appearance on Hockey Central. “He’s here early, he stays late. The work that he demands of himself and those around him, you can tell why he’s reached the level he’s reached.”
The Flames lost 4-3 in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets after blowing a 3-1 first-period lead. Markstrom stopped 30 of 34 shots and was beaten twice by Patrik Laine, including the game-winner 78 seconds into the extra frame.
[radioclip id=5042615]
The Galve, Sweden native, who turns 31 at the end of January, signed a six-year, $36-million contract with Calgary as a free agent in the off-season after finishing the 2019-20 season fourth in Vezina Trophy votes in his seventh and final year with the Vancouver Canucks.
“He’s someone that his teammates adore even though being here a short period of time,” Treliving added. “He doesn’t have to be a saviour and we have to play well in front of him. The goaltender a lot of times is a reflection of what you do in front of him, so it’s up to us to make sure we’re doing our job and making Jacob’s job less difficult.”
The Flames are scheduled for a four-game home stand beginning Saturday with back-to-back contests against the Canucks then two versus the Maple Leafs.
[relatedlinks]
1:27