#gridin

EDMONTON — The grin on Matvei Gridinâ€s face lasted long after the post-game pic with his first NHL goal puck. “Unreal,†said the 19-year-old Flames rookie of an NHL debut few involved will ever forget, for various reasons. “A couple years ago I played on PS, and now Iâ€m in there, so it feels nice.†Even the wizards at PlayStation wouldâ€ve had a hard time programming for an opening…

CALGARY – How perfectly symbolic it was to see Matvei Gridin engulfed in a congratulatory hug from Adam Klapka. No better way to welcome a kid to the big leagues than with a beefy embrace from a six-foot-eight Calgary Flames teammate. As made official in a dressing room announcement from GM Craig Conroy Monday, the Flames will open the season with a pair of teenagers for the first time since…

CALGARY — Ryan Huska preceded the Flames†final pre-season tilt with a rather philosophical reminder to those on the bubble “First impressions are important, but last impressions are critical,†said the Flames coach.  He wasnâ€t speaking of anyone in particular, but as the teamâ€s final cut looms Matvei Gridin came to mind. Heâ€s been, without question, the breakthrough story of camp. A…

CALGARY — As Matvei Gridinâ€s confidence grows, so do his chances of sticking around. As if the 19-year-old Calgary Flames hopeful wasnâ€t making enough of an impression in Seattle Monday with a goal in his second straight game, Gridin punctuated the evening by adding the shootout winner in a 2-1 win over the Kraken. Winding his way into Seattleâ€s zone by taking slow, wide turns at either…