CALGARY (CP) - Calgary Flames left-winger Chris Simon says he's ready for the NHL regular season to get going.
Simon made the declaration Wednesday night after scoring twice in Calgary's 5-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Both of Simon's goals came in the third period as the Flames scored four times against Ty Conklin on just five shots.
"I think we're ready," said Simon, who has three goals and an assist in four pre-season games. "Training camp is the time to get those cobwebs off and start playing for keeps and as the pre-season goes on, games are getting more intense, more physical, and that's a sign."
Playing on a line with the fleet-footed Matthew Lombardi and Chuck Kobasew, Simon scored at 8:59 to make it 3-0 then again at 11:49 to make it 5-0. In between those tallies he used his size to screen Conklin on Dion Phaneuf's slapshot from the blue-line that resulted in a power-play goal.
"Si's job is to surround the net and get in front of the goalie and he did that on the power-play goal," said Flames coach Daryl Sutter.
Simon says the key for him is playing now like it's already October.
"I have to play every game like it's regular season," Simon says. "If I don't, if I start taking it easy out there, that's not my style."
Simon is a big fan of the obstruction crackdown saying it's given him a lot more opportunity to skate out from the corners with the puck.
"I really like the changes," Simon said. "Normally when would get the puck down low, as I rolled out of the corner the guy's got my arm and just keeps hooking you as you try and skate with the puck. As soon as you would go to shoot, they would give you that pull."
When the Flames open the regular season Oct. 5th in Minnesota, it will be only the 14th regular season game for Simon in a Calgary uniform. Simon was acquired from the New York Rangers on March 6, 2004 and ended up playing more games for Calgary that year in the post-season (16).
Stephane Yelle and Shean Donovan also scored for Calgary (4-2-1), which wraps up the home portion of its exhibition schedule with a perfect 4-0-0 record, all four victories coming before sellout crowds of 17,439.
Edmonton falls to 3-3-1.
Miikka Kiprusoff (2-0-0) got his second start and was flawless on 19 shots.
Conklin (1-1-0) was much better in the opening 40 minutes stopping 21 of 22 before the rough final period in which he made just one save.
Off-season additions Chris Pronger and Michael Peca were among many Edmonton regulars that had the night off for Edmonton. Calgary finished 1-for-9 on the power-play while Edmonton went 0-for-4.<
Notes: The Flames begin the regular season with a four-game road trip and will not return to the Pengrowth Saddledome until the home opener versus Dallas on Oct. 13th... Before the game, Calgary assigned forwards Tomi Maki, David Moss, and Brandon Prust to Omaha (AHL). Twenty-nine players remain in camp - 17 forwards, nine defencemen, and three goalies... Calgary wraps up the pre-season Friday night in Vancouver.