I assumed he performed very well,” Huska said of Määtta, who set a season-high with 23:54 of ice-time following the first-period injury to Zach Whitecloud. “He made some good performs with the puck, confirmed a whole lot of composure with it.
“He was firm, and he closed quick on people. Really good first impression from him.”
For Strome, the debut in Flames silks couldn’t have gone significantly better. Two factors, a second-interval objective that bought Calgary’s offence going, and a way of poise that Huska tabbed to the veteran’s expertise within the League.
“You could see the composure that he has with the puck, and that’s what 900 games will get you in the NHL,” mentioned Huska of Strome. (*5*)
No doubt, the ultimate 20 video games of the season will characteristic Calgary’s youth. Both Matvei Gridin and Hunter Brzustewicz had been recalled Sunday so as to add extra younger power to the fold.
But as this group strikes ahead via a busy March, Huska is aware of he’ll be leaning on the Määttas, Stromes and incumbent vets like Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman to assist present the way in which.
“As much as everybody always talks about ‘Hey, play all the young guys, just play ‘em,’ you need good people around them to show them how to play the game, to teach them the rights and the wrongs and to help build their confidence,” mentioned Huska. “Because in the event you put younger guys in conditions frequently that they’re not prepared for, it hurts them.
“That’s why it was so important that Conny (General Manager Craig Conroy) was able to add three older, quality people that are going to help push in the right direction.”
