Flames' Huberdeau feeling confident after 2-point game: 'I still have it'

The first year of Jonathan Huberdeau's Calgary Flames tenure isn't going as planned, but the winger is hopeful he can build off Saturday's two-point performance.

"I want to play well, and tonight, that's how I gotta play the rest of the year," he told reporters following Calgary's 3-2 overtime victory against the New York Rangers. "Sometimes, you don't think you have it in you, and tonight showed that I still have it."

He added: "You've just gotta make plays, and that's what I was doing. It's going to bring the confidence back, and that's what I need. I've just gotta work hard. I knew it was going to come back, but it's only one game, so I've gotta keep going."

Huberdeau recorded two assists Saturday, including a helper on Mikael Backlund's winner, to help snap Calgary's two-game skid. The 29-year-old - who has 10 goals and 28 assists this season after registering a 115-point effort with the Florida Panthers last campaign - has previously expressed frustration with his performance in 2022-23.

Huberdeau's agent, Allan Walsh, ripped the underperforming Flames following their 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, tweeting that "negativity sucks the joy right out of players."

On Friday, Huberdeau distanced himself from his outspoken representative's comment, saying that it "doesn't reflect on" him.

However, he joked about the situation following Saturday's victory, quipping, "Walshy fired me up, I guess," according to Postmedia's Wes Gilbertson.

In the seven games Huberdeau has been skating with Nazem Kadri and rookie Jakob Pelletier, that line has pitched in with three goals, 10 points, and 50 shots, while Calgary has controlled 61.8% of the shot attempts and 57.7% of the expected goals with the trio on the ice at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick.

Shortly after acquiring him from the Panthers as part of the blockbuster Matthew Tkachuk trade in July, Calgary signed Huberdeau to an eight-year, $84-million megadeal, which kicks in next season.

The 26-19-11 Flames' 63 points are tied with the Wild. However, Minnesota has the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with a game in hand over Calgary.

The Flames next play the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.

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