‘Pressure should be on me’: Tkachuk puts Calgary Flames on his shoulders
Tkachuk #Tkachuk
Breadcrumb Trail Links
Author of the article:
Daniel Austin
Publishing date:
Feb 20, 2021 • 6 hours ago • 4 minute read 
Calgary Flames Matthew Tkachuk during warm up before taking on the Vancouver Canucks at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia Photo by Darren Makowichuk /DARREN MAKOWICHUK/Postmedia Article content
Put the pressure on Matthew Tkachuk. It’s what he wants.
With the Calgary Flames floundering outside of a playoff position and playing well below the standard they hoped to be at, there’s plenty of blame to go around.
On Saturday, though, Tkachuk sat in front of the media and put the focus on himself.
He acknowledged his play hasn’t been up to par this season and took responsibility for turning things around.
“For me, personally, I have to get going,” Tkachuk said on a Zoom call with media. “All the pressure should be on me to perform here. It should be on nobody else. I haven’t been at my best and it’s time for me to get going and help us get some wins.
“It’s time for us to get going, it really is. Enough is enough. We say this stuff every year. I feel like we were doing the same thing last year. It’s time for us to take a step as a team and as an organization — and the way we’re playing right now and these results, it’s almost going against what we want.
“It’s not fun when you’re not winning games.
“We have to start playing to win, it seems like we’re going into every game playing not to lose. That has to change.”
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Tkachuk spoke for almost 15 emotionally charged minutes Saturday afternoon and repeatedly took the focus off his teammates and placed it squarely on his own shoulders.
By no means has Tkachuk been terrible this season. He’s got five goals and five assists through 17 games. That’s a slower pace than he was on last year, but it’s not nothing.
His productivity has ground to a halt over the last five games, though, and he hasn’t recorded a single point. He hasn’t scored a goal since Feb. 2 against the Winnipeg Jets, going eight games without lighting the lamp.
The physical side of his game has also been lacking, and Tkachuk hasn’t seemed to be playing with the same edge that has come to define his game in his previous four seasons.
“I think for myself, personally, there’s been games this year where from the first puck drop, I’m just not creating or getting anything going offensively,” Tkachuk said. “There’s been a couple games (where I’ve gone) pretty much the whole game with maybe a chance, and that’s not good enough.
“I have to be around. I’ve been around it more recently, I’ve just got to get to the net and when I have the puck and am making plays, that’s when I’m at my best, personally.”
Tkachuk is well aware of the criticism that’s been levelled at himself and his teammates. The Flames were viewed as real contenders in the North Division heading into the season, but are currently in fifth place with an 8-8-1 record. Already, they’re 11 points back of the division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs.
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Tkachuk’s struggles might not be getting much attention if the Flames were winning but for all intents and purposes, they’re a .500 team. They’re remarkably inconsistent and everyone from their coach to their general manager has called them out for needing to commit to working on the details that go into winning hockey games.
The Flames try to block out external noise but there’s been no hiding from some of the criticism.
“I don’t really pay attention to that stuff too much, I just hear it from people that are close to me that the criticism is there and everybody wants me gone or all the stuff that’s out there,” Tkachuk said. “They loved me once, so I’ve just got to start playing better and, honestly, it all comes when the team’s not getting as many wins as we want. I think that’s the same with everybody when they get criticized. Nobody gets criticized when the team is doing really well.”
Matthew Tkachuk plays in a Calgary Flames intrasquad game at the Saddledome in Calgary on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. Photo by Al Charest /Postmedia
From Tkachuk’s perspective, the Flames have no choice but to turn things around right away. Starting on Saturday night with a game against the Oilers in Edmonton, the Flames are entering a treacherous stretch in which they play six games in 10 nights.
There’s an opportunity to pick up a lot of points but if the team doesn’t improve, they could also lose even more ground in the North Division.
“I’m prepared to do whatever I can. It starts (Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers),” Tkachuk said. “Realistically, it’s a make-or-break road trip for our team with the way things are going and not a lot of games left, when you really think about it. When you’re behind the eight-ball, it’s hard to make up that much ground at this point in the year with what, 40 games left?
“I’m prepared to do whatever I can. I think the main thing I can provide is a spark when things are going right or aren’t going right. I’m putting a ton of pressure, I’m putting basically all the pressure on myself to turn this thing around for us. It starts tonight. I’m prepared to do whatever I can and all the pressure should be on me.”
daustin@postmedia.comOn Twitter: @DannyAustin_9
Share this article in your social network Ottawa Citizen Headline News
By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up!
Comments
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.