Calgary Flames Matt Coronato Faces Childhood Favorite New York Islanders

CALGARY, Alberta — Calgary Flames forward Matt Coronato eagerly anticipated facing the New York Islanders, the team he supported during his childhood. «Yeah, it’s definitely cool,» shared Coronato, a native of Greenlawn, ahead of Tuesday night’s game at the Scotiabank Saddledome. «I grew up watching the Islanders all the time.»

The matchup against the Islanders marked the penultimate game of their season-long, five-game road trip. Coronato, who turned 22 on Thursday, was participating in his 49th NHL game as a Flames player, having been selected 13th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. This season, Coronato skates on the right wing alongside second-line center Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman, boasting five goals and two assists in 13 games prior to the contest.

During the morning skate, Coronato attracted significant media attention. He expressed his excitement about the game, which he had been looking forward to. «I think my buddies at home definitely still root for them,» Coronato remarked, before lightheartedly adding, «along with the Flames, of course. I’m sure they’ll be cheering for the Flames tonight.»

Coronato’s journey to the NHL involved playing for the Long Island Gulls Under-16 AAA team, St. Anthony’s High School, and later Salisbury Prep in Connecticut. He was drafted by the Flames after performing impressively with 48 goals and 37 assists in 51 games for the Chicago Steel of the USHL during the 2020-21 season. Following two collegiate seasons at Harvard, Coronato made his NHL debut on April 12, 2023, and split last season between the Flames’ AHL affiliate and the NHL, where he scored three goals and six assists in 34 games.

Flames coach Ryan Huska has observed Coronato’s progress, noting improvements across various aspects of his play. «He still has a lot of swagger offensively with the puck,» Huska explained. «But I think now, with where we’re using him, there’s even more of a belief that he can impact the game in different ways.»

Kevin Rooney, the Flames’ fourth-line center, commended Coronato’s ability to adapt and mature in the league. «He’s really impressed me, honestly,» Rooney told Newsday. «Seeing him get more comfortable this year, you kind of see the player he can be. He’s got a really good shot and is a big part of our team right now.”

The Islanders’ lineup saw the return of defenseman Alexander Romanov, who had missed several games due to an upper-body injury. Romanov rejoined Noah Dobson on the top defensive pair, while Semyon Varlamov was selected to start in goal by coach Patrick Roy, continuing the alternation of their goalkeepers for the fourth consecutive game. Former Flames coach Brent Sutter, celebrating induction into the Islanders’ hall of fame, attended the game.