CALGARY — Tuesday marked the second anniversary of Darryl Sutter’s infamously disrespectful, “what number is he?” when asked about Jakob Pelletier’s NHL debut.
The road hasn’t gotten any smoother for the Flames’ 23-year-old first-rounder who has since dealt with two shoulder injuries, several demotions and a waiver scare to open this season.
On Thursday, No. 22 was the best player on the ice, and everyone knew exactly who he was.
For a player many may have written off, it was a difference-making outing that may be remembered as the type of turning point his career he has so desperately needed.
The game-winner and an assist only tell a tiny fraction of the impact he had in a 5-2 win over Buffalo that looked very much in doubt until he was moved from the fourth line to the first.
The promotion came early in the second period of a game the Flames were rapidly losing control of, having given up two early goals to trail 2-1.
“That was the start of it,” said Ryan Huska of the line shuffling that led to four unanswered goals by the Flames.
“He was skating, he was harder on the puck tonight and he finished some checks, which we don’t ask him to do.
“That’s the best game I’ve seen him play in the NHL and hopefully it’s a sign of things to come from him.”
Marking the second game in a row in which his energy and speed resulted in an in-game ascension to the top trio, he demonstrated a versatility Huska can now use as a tool to kickstart his club.
Shortly after the promotion, Pelletier played a big role in Kadri’s game-tying tally, starting the play with a great stretch pass for Huberdeau and acting as a decoy on the two-on-one Kadri finished himself.
He punctuated the period with a great scoring chance, made a key shot block and followed it up in the third with a redirection of a Brayden Pachal point shot that would end up being the winner.
His contributions didn’t end there, as he played a role in the team’s six penalty kills, including the first one that saw Huberdeau open the scoring with a slick finish on a shorthanded breakaway.
“I looked back to see if my son was coming — I think he was, but he was a little bit slow,” laughed Huberdeau, who has long joked about his fellow Quebecer being like a son to him.
“So I just said, why not take the shot?
“He brings so much energy. He’s been playing well since he came up again. He came up on our line and I think we had a lot of looks. He’s been skating hard and playing well defensively and I think he was just rewarded tonight.”
This is the Pelletier they thought they were getting when they drafted him 26th in 2019.
The road ever since has been long for the diminutive winger, but with a three-point night in his pocket a week earlier, and this memorable evening, the sagging confidence he’s spoken openly about is turning around.
“It felt unreal,” said a beaming Pelletier, who agreed with the coach that it was his best effort in 57 big league games.
“Yeah, I think so. I had some hits tonight, I scored some goals, I passed the puck too, so it felt good. It was huge for us to win the game tonight, especially here at the Dome where it feels like we haven’t played in forever.”
Pelletier said his mindset doesn’t change when he’s given a loftier perch in the lineup, bringing the same speed and spunk.
What he seems to have now is some swagger, which will only increase after a memorable night like that.
“It does a lot,” he said of the confidence boost that saw him finish a check that almost landed Sabres forward Tyson Kozak into the Flames bench.
“It’s not about points or goals or whatever, I think you’ve just got to build on that by making plays and playing good on the PK, and I think points are just going to come.”
Despite averaging less than 13 minutes a night in the bottom six, Pelletier now has 11 points in 20 NHL games this season, sitting tied for the team lead at plus-10.
On this night he helped Huberdeau and Kadri both finish with three points, combining as a line to be plus-10.
“I’ve just got to play the same way,” said Pelletier of the secret to success on various lines.
“You try to produce more when you’re playing with the big dogs.
“When you play more you feel more engaged, and I know since I’ve been called back up I’m playing more and I’m playing better.”
The fact that he’s playing here at all is a testament to his attitude, which is infectious.
On a low-scoring team that requires a tireless work ethic to keep them in an unlikely playoff race, he epitomizes the relentless approach required.
On many nights his efforts go unnoticed, which has slowly changed of late.
On this night, his elevation allowed Huska’s top line to help eclipse the three-goal mark for just the seventh time this season.
The team is 7-0 when they do.
Never mind the fact they needed empty netters from Mikael Backlund and Yegor Sharangovich to do it.
The fact is they somehow found a way to win the sort of game needed if they are to stay in playoff contention.
And it was the promotion of good ol’ what’s-his-number that played a big role in it.
