Flames' milestone night ends tough season on a high note

CALGARY — Game 82 for a playoff-less team doesn’t generally end with back slaps, jubilant interviews and standing ovations.

But on a night when a trio of Flames players punctuated a season of transition by reaching milestone moments, Calgary fans and players left the Saddledome on a high.

“I think the most special part was the big mutant Klapka getting that goal and giving me a big hug, and he’s looking down at me, saying, ‘I scored in the NHL,’ and he’s spitting on my face,” said MacKenzie Weegar of 6-foot-8 winger Adam Klapka scoring his first NHL goal in a 5-1 win over San Jose.

“I’m like, ‘effin rights.’

“It’s little things like that that are special and you don’t forget those.”

The little things were all the Flames had to play for Thursday, and they didn’t disappoint. 

By night’s end Weegar knuckle-pucked his way to the 20-goal mark, setting a club record with 17 even-strength goals (by a defenceman) and founding a new NHL club by scoring 20 while also blocking 200 shots in the same season.  

Blake Coleman returned from a week-long injury to score a career-high 30^th of the year and Klapka added his first NHL fight to his first goal.

Yes, the 23-year-old Czechia prospect was aware of what a Gordie Howe hat trick was.  

“I know — I was close,” beamed the most likeable newbie on the planet, who admitted he asked Givani Smith to dance during warmups, just as he did with Nikita Zadorov Saturday in Vancouver (to no avail).

“All the guys was reminding to me. But I didn’t really focus on it.

“I just wanted to try to get Wolfie the shutout and help the team to win.”

Ah yes, Wolfie.

Not everyone finished the night in storybook fashion, as Dustin Wolf fell 8.9 seconds short of his first NHL shutout, while Nazem Kadri’s quest to reach the 30-goal plateau for the third time was denied despite a whopping 16 shot attempts.

“Not for lack of effort, that’s for sure,” he laughed.

“Probably could have found the net a few times, but I’m happy Coles and Weegs hit it. I’d much prefer them hit those milestones, they haven’t hit them before.

“The first (chance of the night) I’ll be thinking about for a while. Did I hit the steel of his skate?”

Indeed he did, which simply drove teammates to try even harder to get Kadri and Co. their special goals.

Things really are heading in a good direction for a revamped team whose youth movement has the team’s blend of youngsters and veterans working together to create an environment and standard for years to come.

“It shows a lot about our character, wanting that for each other, and I think everyone was really excited when Colesy scored and Weegsy followed,” said Kadri, the team’s MVP.

“Everyone is happy for their teammates and that’s nice to see because that’s a genuine happiness. A lot of selfless guys in this room.”

Sure, fans in playoff-bound cities will laugh at the mere suggestion that a win that moved the team’s draft lottery chances from 6 per cent to 5 per cent has much merit.

But the team’s last impression on the season was a positive one.  

“A good way to go out for our team,” said Coleman. 

“Nice way to end a tough year.

“At the end of the day that’s what you’re most proud of here, down the stretch, is guys playing for each other. This could have been a throwaway, meaningless game, and guys took it upon themselves to find something to care about and that was each other.

“To me that goes a long way in the future of this team.”

Weegar’s wobbler from the point early in the second period saw him surpass the team’s single-season even-strength goal record, held by Hall of Famer Al MacInnis.   

“It’s an honour, special to break one of his records,” said Weegar, admitting he had trouble getting the 20-goal mark out of his mind while attempting an afternoon nap.

“What I’m most proud of is how much we cared for one another tonight. After I scored, the sincerity of the congratulations from everybody… When they come up to you after and say how proud they are of you, the little things like that go a long way for me. It gives me goosebumps. I love all the guys in this room. We’ve got a great group.”