CALGARY (CP) - Big things are expected from Chuck Kobasew this season, and the speedy Calgary Flames right-winger treated fans to a sneak preview Monday night.
The 23-year-old scored once and added an assist as Calgary improved to 3-1-1 in the NHL pre-season with a 3-2 win over the rival Vancouver Canucks.
Kobasew opened the scoring on a quick one-timer from the slot at 2:29 of the second.
On his next shift, Kobasew displayed his speed and strength, bursting down the wing and around Ed Jovanovski. While fending off the Canucks defenceman, he fired a rising backhand that goaltender Dan Cloutier couldn't control and Steve Montador jammed in the rebound.
"Jovanovski's a quick and strong defenceman and they were even but then he pulled a great move to get by him," said Flames captain Jarome Iginla, noticeably impressed.
While most NHL players were looking for work during the lockout, Kobasew took his NHL resume, which included all 26 playoff games from Calgary's 2003-04 Stanley Cup run, and headed back to the minors.
Named captain of the AHL's Lowell Lock Monsters, Kobasew turned in a standout season. In 75 games, he scored 38 goals - including a league-high 12 game-winners - added 37 assists, and finished tied for the league lead in plus/minus at plus-37.
"Just going out there last year and playing and not thinking about what was going on with the lockout and the negotiations, the whole experience was a lot of fun," said Kobasew. "I tried to get better at everything, get stronger, and shoot the puck more."
Iginla says the improvements are evident.
"You can see he wants to get to that next level, he's very determined," Iginla said. "Everybody wants to but not everyone has the same determination. He's the kind of player that's very determined and you can see his confidence is growing and growing.
Those observations were echoed by Flames assistant coach Jim Playfair.
"Chuckie's playing the same way he finished up in Lowell last year," said Playfair. "Every time one of us went down to watch him the report was Chuck was the best player on the ice for both teams. What's allowed him to do that is he's moving his feet, he's fearless, and he's taking the puck into the hard areas and that's the way he has to play."
Daymond Langkow also scored for Calgary, while Brendan Morrison and Sami Salo replied for Vancouver, which remains winless in four games (0-2-2).
In their first meeting since their raucous seven-game opening round series in the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs, the rivalry that has grown between the two Northwest Division teams was rekindled in no time.
With the sellout crowd of 17,439 already loudly booing every time Jovanovski touched the puck, Jovanovski compounded matters getting in a number of skirmishes throughout the night.
Canucks winger Jarkko Ruutu then moved into the spotlight when his heavy hit on Calgary's Byron Ritchie along the side boards late in the second left Ritchie crumpled on the ice.
Calgary captain Jarome Iginla instantly dropped the gloves and went after Ruutu but was restrained. Ritchie was helped off the ice and didn't return.
Meanwhile, the battle to back up goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff continues to be the most compelling training camp battle for Calgary.
After watching from the bench Friday night when Brent Krahn shut out the Edmonton Oilers, Philippe Sauve seized his opportunity Monday night with a strong 26-save performance.
Notes: No update was available on Ritchie's condition although the speculation was that he was going to be fine. ... Ritchie opened the game centring Marcus Nilson and Craig MacDonald. It was their first time reunited since they played together with the Florida Panthers in 2003-04 where they were dubbed the John Deere line for their hard-working style. Calgary acquired Nilson via a trade in March, 2004 and signed Ritchie and MacDonald this summer as free agents.