Six notable performances in Flames’ pre-season opener

CALGARY — There aren’t many better ways to serve notice you feel ready for an NHL roster spot than by scoring twice and ringing a beauty off the post.

Aydar Suniev took a big step towards showing he may soon be capable of helping fill the team’s scoring void with a pair of pre-season finishes Sunday night that had the 20-year-old Russian grinning.

“I was working on my shot all summer and I’m glad it’s paying off,” said Suniev, following a 4-2 loss to open the Flames pre-season schedule at the Dome.

Suniev also happened to score the Flames only goal in last week’s prospects game.

“Three goals so far and he’s scored all three, so good on him,” said coach Ryan Huska.

“He can shoot a puck, and when he has opportunities it’s nice to see him have success.

“Every year that Suni has come back there’s been a lot of growth in his game. That’s what we’re excited about. He’s maturing both mentally and, for sure, physically as well.”

Selected in the third round of the 2023 draft after scoring 45 goals and 90 points in 50 games with the Penticton Vees, the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder with the world-class shot offers plenty of hope for an organization desperately in search of goal scorers.

Suniev cut Seattle’s 2-0 lead in half by converting a nifty feed from Sam Honzek in the slot to beat Philipp Grubauer with a quick release along the ice. He stepped across the blue line and rifled a shot in off Nikke Kokko’s glove to tie the game 2-2 with 10 minutes left.

Suniev spent two years at UMass-Amherst before spending last season with the Wranglers, where the bulk of his 16 goals came in the second half as the team put an emphasis on helping him learn the defensive side of the game.

The best player on the ice all night was a youngster who made a big splash in camp two autumns ago when the 2023 first-rounder led the pre-season in scoring, earning an opening-night gig in the bigs. Injuries ruined that season for him, and last season wasn’t much better, as he missed the last five months due to shoulder surgery.

But on this night he was involved at both ends of the ice, forcing turnovers, creating chances and eventually setting up Suniev’s first with a brilliant interception and feed.

The two seemed to have good chemistry when on the ice together, giving fans plenty of hope that the roster spot he’s been penciled in for due to Jonathan Huberdeau’s injury will likely be well-earned.

“He was back like he hadn’t missed a year,” said Huska of the 6-foot-4, 186-pound lefty, who opened the night with a big hit that should give him confidence his shoulder woes are behind him.