WINNIPEG – Bob Hartley has always said Sam Bennett is a quick study.
But 33 seconds?
One of three newbies receiving their NHL debuts Saturday, the highly-touted first-round draft pick from the Kingston Frontenacs required only three ticks over half a minute to register his first big-league point as the Calgary Flames closed out a stirring 2014-2015 regular season with a 5-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
So the Flames finish up at 45-30-7 for 97 points, good for third in the Pacific Division. The loss made the later Vancouver-Edmonton tilt a moot point. Had the Flames won, the Canucks would’ve needed to beat the Oilers to secure home ice in the first round of the playoffs.
As it is, Calgary will open up its post-season at Rogers Arena versus the Canucks next week.
Included in the starting line-up at MTS Centre, Bennett – with both of his parents in the stands – notched point No. 1 in short order, circling the Jet net on a stuff attempt, the puck ricocheting up in the air and ending up behind Winnipeg goaltender Michael Hutchinson off the Manitoba-born Michael Ferland
That would be as good as it got for a makeshift Calgary team, though.
Only 15 seconds later, Drew Stafford equalized, Joni Ortio, pinching hitting in the Flames’ net for Jonas Hiller, whiffing on the shot.
After a truly lacklustre second period, the Jets seized control in the third.
In the opening minute, Michael Frolik converted a fine pass from Mark Scheifele behind Ortio after Scheifele shrugged of Mason Raymond’s checking attempt along he woodwork to thrust the home side ahead 2-1. Then ex-Flame Lee Stempniak, Adam Lowry and, with 1:01 left, defenceman Keaton Ellerby put the result well and truly out of reach.
To give some of his much-used veterans a chance to heal up before the organization’s first post-season appearance in six years, coach Bob Hartley decided to include a group of youngsters in his lineup.
Among the Flames scratched (inhale) were: Defencemen Kris Russell, T.J. Brodie and Dennis Wideman, as well as the entire No. 1 line of Jiri Hudler, Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau and goalie Jonas Hiller. The Jets, who also clinched a playoff berth on Thursday, countered by resting, among others, captain Andrew Ladd, Bryan Littke, Blake Wheeler, Tyler Myers and goalie Ondrej Pavalec (exhale).
Included in the Flames’ lineup were Bennett, defencemen John Ramage and Brett Kulka – all taking their NHL bows – as well as D-man Corey Potter and Tyler Wotherspoon and forwards Emile Poirier, David Wolf and Drew Shore.
Hartley will give the players Sunday off before resuming practice Monday to prepare for the Sedin twins, Alex Burrows and the rest of the Canucks.
gjohnson@calgaryherald.com
Twitter.com/GeorgejohnsonCH
Source:: http://www.canada.com/sports/Bennett+shines+Flames+snuffed+Jets/10965045/story.html
