ACING THEIR CHEM TEST

Chemistry is a lot like 'emotion' between bitter archrivals.
It tends to come naturally.
You can't fake it or make a trip down to the corner store and pick yourself up a
box.
You either have it or you don't.

And right now, the line of Mikael Backlund, Tyler Pitlick and Blake Coleman are in marching in lockstep.
"You've all got to be very goal-oriented players, in the sense that you want to establish the same type of game," said Coleman, who led the way with a goal, an assist, and a team-leading eight shots on goal in Monday's victory over the Rangers.
He would know.
The 29-year-old - who signed on with the Flames as a free agent this past summer - is coming off back-to-back Stanley Cup wins with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
His line with Yanni Gourde and Barclay Goodrow was a force for the Bolts in the playoffs. They were the unsung stars, the analytical darlings that consistently went to the tough areas, won the possession battle, and were always in the right spot to score goals.
Hmm …
Sounds familiar.
It's early, but are we now seeing signs of that brewing here in Calgary?
"We're all proud two-way guys," Coleman said. "We focus our games - most importantly - on keeping the puck out of our net. But we all want to contribute offensively as well and have the instincts and the ability to do so.
"It reminds me of my line in Tampa, in the sense that you can play big minutes and you can be relied upon defensively, but are also expected to contribute offensively.
"They're both really good players. It's still early, we're still learning each other and building some chemistry, but I like the way it's going."

Coleman's goal Monday was as big as they come. The Rangers had pulled to within one and Madison Square Garden was bumping early in the third period.
The Flames, though, replied the way good teams do.
They took back control, winning puck battle after puck battle, and forcing the Rangers into three defensive-zone turnovers (including one by the goalie) in the span of a half-minute.
Pitlick came up with a loose puck and, with the Rangers dog tired and chasing in their own end, fed Coleman in the slot.
The veteran made good on the second effort to restore the all-important two-goal lead.
The trio tallied again - this time, with Backlund doing the damage - only 2:19 later to salt away the victory.
And what a beauty it was.
Backlund strolled up the ice after getting a lead pass from Coleman, casually splitting the D and popping a beautiful shot into the upper terrace of the cage.
The line finished the night with 60% (12-8) of the shot share and a team-high 72.73% (8-3) of the scoring chances.
"We're getting better and better," Backlund said. "(Monday) was our best game so far. Both guys pretty much missed all of training camp, so for me, it's about getting to know two new faces and learn their habits whenever we're on the ice.
"It's a process, but I thought we took a big step yesterday.
"All three of us are solid two-way players. Responsible players. At the same time, we can all score goals in this league. We're hard on the forecheck, so it should be a line that's hard and frustrating to play against, and that's our goal - to make it frustrating on other lines, other teams."

Coleman agrees.
That thorn-in-the-side, sandpaper-style game is him in a nutshell.
Add a punishing hitter like Pitlick to the equation, along with the smooth-skating, cerebral sort such as Backlund, and suddenly the team's depth is a real strength.
"Chemistry's a weird thing," said Coleman, who returns to New Jersey for the first time after being traded in February of 2020, and will want to put on a good show. "It doesn't necessarily matter who the players (are). It's why the lines get shuffled so much. But when you do find it, you try to hold onto it.
"They do remind me a lot of my Tampa linemates. They work hard, they have great offensive instincts. We don't spend much time in the D zone because they're quick to pucks, they're strong in battles, and as a winger, that's all you really want.
"Hopefully we can continue to build on it."