Can Andrey Kuzmenko keep it up? The Flames hope so

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Imagine if Andriy Kuzmenko could put up a similar clip next season.

So far, that salary pile has provided plenty of offense for the Calgary Flames.

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The Russian right wing scored another goal and added an assist in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Arizona Coyotes and now has 14 points and two dozen points in 27 games since being traded to Cowtown.

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If he can keep that pace going for a full schedule, he'll finish in the 40-goal, 70-point range.

The Flames are happy to sign up for this.

“When he feels good about his game, he wants the puck on his stick and he can do anything with it,” praised head coach Ryan Huska. “So I'm hoping that in the future we'll see the same things we've seen from him all the time. I mean, it's hard to tell sometimes this time of year because the games are a little different for us, but he looks a lot more comfortable on the ice right now.

“If Cousy is comfortable, we'll definitely take him.”

Whether it's just a hot streak or a sign of things to come, Kuzmenko is sure to end the 2023-24 campaign on a high note.

In nine games on the wing of Nazem Kadri, he scored nine goals and had seven assists. In the entire NHL, only Auston Matthews and Steven Stamkos have tickled more strings in an 18-day span. Only Nikita Kucherov has more total points. This is an elite company.

Kuzmenko buried 39 for the Vancouver Canucks last winter, so the scoring pop, including a hat trick in Anaheim on Friday, isn't a complete surprise.

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The Canucks never doubted his offensive prowess. However, there have been questions about his craft in his own area and West Coast were willing to release his contract – with a cap hit of US$5 million for this season and next – as part of a trade. For Elias Lindholm.

The way the 28-year-old Kuzmenko filled out the score sheet and the way he clicked with Kadri seemed like a bargain.

“It's a lot of work until these last nine games,” Kuzmenko told reporters after Sunday's win over the soon-to-be-relocated Coyotes. “The results are not surprising because it is a big job for me. And before, big changes.

“It's a big difference for me because it's my second season in this league. I understand what I need, how to work and train, how to focus and how to believe in myself.

“It was a tough start in Calgary. But now I understand.”

This could be big news for the Flames.

Kadri, who scored a pair of goals against the Coyotes on Sunday to bring his season total to 29, suggested Kuzmenko's current tear may be the result of “that sense of rejuvenation” and a determination to silence any doubters.

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As Kadri said, “I think that chip on your shoulder can motivate certain players.”

If so, I hope Kuzmenko can keep that chip right there.

“Don't stop for me,” he said. “Work, work.”

And points, points, points?

The Flames would be fine with that.

AROUND THE BOARDS

Kadri's career high is 32 goals, which he scored in back-to-back campaigns with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is within 30 for the third time in his career after a pair of third-period tallies Sunday at the Saddledome. “Obviously, I've proven that I can get there,” Kadri said. 'That's why I can never sell myself short' … Matt Coronato, Egor Sharangovich and Connor Zari also found the back of the net against the Coyotes … Sharangovich's second-period shot, a backhand post move from captain Mikael Backlund, would be. to be a big talk in his homeland. With that goal, Sharangovic scored 59 points, setting a new single-season record for the most points scored by a Belarusian. This tag used to belong to his friend and mentor Mikhail Grabovsky… Flame worker McKenzie Vigar is now a member of the injured crew. He's one of five guys in the NHL to block 200 shots this season…Dustin Wolf's third. Dylan Guenther scored twice for the visitors, and Alex Kerfoot, Mathias McChelly and Josh Doan also slid pucks past Wolff… Coronato called his number two-on-one and considered a pass to Kevin Rooney, but instead a runner wired past Connor. Ingram is on the glove side. While Coronato has three goals in the NHL so far, the 21-year-old right winger has appeared in 40 games in the minors and averaged 1.05 points per game, an encouraging statistic for a first-year pro. As he reminded everyone with Sunday's snipe, this kid has a wicked kick.

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From glass

Blake Coleman is the latest winner of the Peter Maher Guy Award, voted on by local media and given to the Flames player who best exemplifies the legendary radio broadcaster's virtues of honesty, integrity, dedication and respect. Maher, who has been the voice of the Flames for 33 seasons, was on hand at Sunday's morning skate to hand off the equipment, even though the event was marked by a “Yeah, baby!” He noted that. … Coleman, by the way, missed his third straight game with an upper-body injury … The Flames have two games left — Tuesday against the Canucks in Vancouver and Thursday at home against the San Jose Sharks.

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