'Finish it off here': Flames look to advance past Stars
In a series where goals have been scarce, Johnny Gaudreau leads the Calgary Flames in playoff scoring. He has a goal and four assists in five games against the Dallas Stars.
But this hasn't been the easiest of series for number 13. In game four, Gaudreau took a hard hit from Stars forward Vladislav Namesitnikov and had to leave the game. But he returned and helped lead the Flames to a 4-1 vicotry.
In game five, he took an errant puck to the jaw. Again Gaudreau left the game but was able to return and see his team come back to defeat the Stars 3-1.
Friday, Gaudreau said it's all part of playoff hockey.
"It's been tough at times," Gaudreau added, "but I'm happy with the way our team has played and I'm happy with the way our line has played and we're sitting here today with a great opportunity in front of ourselves."
LEANING ON VETERANS
Gaudreau has only made it past the first round of the playoffs once in his career. Many of his teammates like Noah Hanifin have never experienced that.
Hanifin says it's important to lean on veteran players who have had playoff success like Blake Coleman, Trevor Lewis, Tyler Toffoli and Milan Lucic.
Blake Coleman, who won back-to-back Stanley Cups with Tampa, gave the Flames a pep talk between second and third periods Wednesday night. The Flames scored three third period goals to defeat Dallas and find themselves one game from advancing in the 2022 NHL playoffs.
"They've been there so they're very calm in those situations, in those moments and in the bit games," the 25-year-old defenceman said.
"I think it's comforting to be around guys like that in the room and have that. But it's all about what's in front of you and not kind of looking too far ahead.
"Just focusing on one good game and the rest will take care of itself."
FOCUSING ON TONIGHT
The Flames have been successful this season because they've been able to stay in the moment and not look too far ahead.
Gaudreau said all their focus in on game six versus the Stars.
"We're not focusing on the next round. We're focusing on tonight," he said.
"We'll worry about that when it comes to it. I think guys in the locker room know how important this game is.
"You know we don't want to push this to a game seven. You want to finish it off here and that's our mindset in the locker room."
Of course the Stars mindset is to push this series to a seventh game in Calgary on Sunday night.
Stars coach Rick Bowness said the team has found some inspiration from the NBA'S Dallas Mavericks.
"We know where we are. Embrace it," he said.
"Listen the Mavericks came in here last night and they're going back to Phoenix. (The Mavericks beat Suns 113-86 Wednesday night). Our goal is to come in here tonight and go back to Calgary on Sunday night."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police inaction allowed Texas massacre to continue with catastrophic consequences: experts
The decision by police to wait before confronting the gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was a failure with catastrophic consequences, experts say. When it was all over 19 students and two teachers were dead.

Indigenous B.C. filmmaker says he was refused entry on Cannes red carpet for his moccasins
A Dene filmmaker based in Vancouver says he was "disappointed" and "close to tears" when security at the Cannes Film Festival blocked him from walking the red carpet while dressed in a pair of moccasins.
'Absurd' to criticize feds for possible challenge of provincial laws, says Lametti
Justice Minister David Lametti is defending the federal government's authority to challenge provincial laws that they believe infringe on the rights of Canadians, after Quebec said Ottawa's reaction to Bills 21 and 96 lacked 'respect.'
Putin warns against continued arming of Ukraine; Kremlin claims another city captured
As Russia asserted progress in its goal of seizing the entirety of contested eastern Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin tried Saturday to shake European resolve to punish his country with sanctions and to keep supplying weapons that have supported Ukraine's defence.
'What happened to Chelsea?' Vancouver march demands answers in Indigenous woman's death
Around a hundred people gathered at noon Saturday at the empty Vancouver home where Chelsea Poorman’s remains were found late last month to show their support for her family's call for answers and justice.
Canada to play for gold at men's hockey worlds after victory over Czechia
Canada and Finland won semifinal games Saturday to set up a third straight gold-medal showdown between the teams at the IIHF world hockey championship.
Tear gas fired at Liverpool fans in Champions League final policing chaos
Riot police fired tear gas and pepper spray at Liverpool supporters forced to endure lengthy waits to get into the Champions League final amid logistical chaos and an attempt by UEFA and French authorities to blame overcrowding at turnstiles on people trying to access the stadium with fake tickets on Saturday.
48K without power one week after deadly storm swept through Ontario, Quebec
One week after a severe wind and thunderstorm swept through Ontario and Quebec, just over 48,000 homes in the two provinces were still without power on Saturday.
Explainer: Where do hydro poles come from?
The devastating storm in southern Ontario and Quebec last weekend damaged thousands of hydro poles across the two provinces. CTVNews.ca gives a rundown of where utility companies get their hydro poles from, as well as the climate challenges in the grid infrastructure.