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Monday, December 20, 1999
One day at a time
Pesky Flames forward is Hnat taking anything for granted
Hnat Domenichelli lists himself as "day to day."
Even when he's not injured.
"I'm a day-to-day player," he was saying following the 2-1 white-knuckler over Ottawa. "By that, I mean I'm not an automatic to be in the lineup every night. I know that. So I have to go out every day and show the coaching staff I should be playing.
"Day-to-day, just like I said."
Well, Saturday was a good day for Mr. Day-to-Day. Domenichelli won a critical offensive faceoff on Robyn Regehr's game-opening goal then swatted a backhander off the stick off Senator defenceman Patrick Traverse and beyond goalie Ron Tugnutt for what turned out to be the deciding strike.
It was his first multiple-point game of the season.
"I just want to keep this going," said Domenichelli, who's fought through an initial dispatch to the minors and the humbling experience of clearing waivers to, if not carve out a niche for himself here, at least make his presence felt.
"I had a bit of a tough time there but now I'm back, and I hope it's to stay."
He now has seven points in 13 starts this year.
"It's critical for the success of the team that a lot of us chip in and help Val and Cory and Iggy and Savvy offensively. We know those guys are going to get their goals but they can't be expected to do it every night. So it's up to us -- and I mean myself and Naz and Marty (St. Louis) and a few other others -- to take some of the pressure off them.
"Nobody's expecting us to carry the team. But it's our job to help out where we can, and hopefully at some key times."
Variety is the spice of life, after all, and for too long off the get-go this season, Val Bure and Phil Housley were left to piggyback the attack all by their lonesomes.
"We need guys like Hnat to step in when Val and our other scorers and being checked really tight," said injured defenceman Derek Morris. "It's been great to see how many different guys are making a contribution in that area.
"I don't know how happy he is about it but even Hulser has scored since being moved up front."
In this 8-4-2-1 run over the past 14 games, 18 different Flames have scored as Calgary ran up 35 goals. Cory Stillman has paced the attack with six of those, followed by Bure with five and Jarome Iginla with four.
In the eight wins, seven different players are credited with game-winners.
That's called spreading the wealth around.
"Other teams are starting to really key in on Val and Phil," says defenceman Tommy Albelin. "They're shutting them down more. Successful teams get production from a number of different places. And that's what we're starting to see here.
"You can get too dependent on one player or one line, and then when they get shut down you're thinking 'Oh, ohhhhhh ...' "
SICK OF FEELING SICK: The latest experiment lasted 10 minutes.
"And then I started to feel sick again," sighed Derek Morris, arriving at the rink yesterday for the Flames' annual family Christmas skate.
"It's really bothering me. All day, I feel fine. Just great. Then I get on the ice and I start feeling nauseous. So I phoned TK (athletic therapist Terry Kane) right away and he said that's a common symptom. We'll see how it goes but right now I'm not feeling that great about things."
Morris was struck behind the right ear by an Al MacInnis shot at the Kiel Center last Tuesday. He's now missed two games from the after-effects of the mishap and must be listed as doubtful for tomorrow's visit by the defending Stanley Cup-champion Dallas Stars.
KIRK DOESN'T SURPISE TOMMY: Flames defenceman Tommy Albelin has seen first-hand what Kirk Muller can bring to a team.
"I think he's a good fit for Dallas," said Albelin. "He can really handle the puck, and is a smart, smart player.
"His leadership abilities? Well, he was captain of the Montreal Canadiens. That says it all. They don't take those things lightly there. Just take a look at the list of the players who've worn that 'C' and it tells you all you need to know about what Kirk's about."
Muller, who sat out until very recently without a contract, scored a big goal Saturday in his Stars debut at GM Place.
"The knock you kept hearing was that he couldn't skate anymore," said Albelin. "Well, I watched the game against Vancouver and I don't know where anybody got that from.
"He was skating really well."
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