Conroy, 37, hungers for glory

The 6 inches of fresh snow that fell in Calgary this past weekend were the last thing Craig Conroy wanted to see.

It's been a long season of winter and hockey, but the Potsdam native can direct his eyes elsewhere to get motivated. By taking a glimpse at the NHL standings, Conroy can be satisfied knowing that he's helped guide the Calgary Flames to a one-point lead in the Northwest Division with seven games left in the regular season.

Even at age 37, the thought of the playoffs is enough to rejuvenate Conroy from any potential slumber.

"In the middle of the season, with all of the travel, you get run down," Conroy said. "Now, you get energized against because it's playoff time."

Calgary sits one point ahead of Chicago and Vancouver in third place in the Western Conference. The key to the Flames' playoff positioning has been consistency since the beginning of the season. They've enjoyed winning streaks of four games or more four different times.

"We've had some good stretches," Conroy said. "Last year, we had to fight tooth and nail just to get in the playoffs. But we've had a few stretches, and the young guys have played well. As the oldest guy on the team, I appreciate it more and more each day that I get to do this for a living."

Conroy has been the epitome of efficiency again for Calgary. The former Clarkson standout has contributed 44 points and is second on the team with a plus-17 rating. He is one of only five players on the team to play in all 75 games. Conroy's production could've decreased following the Flames' trade for flashy offensive star Olli Jokinen.

But Conroy never changed his role. The longtime center has provided a stable presence on Calgary's checking lines, and he's still a valuable asset on the penalty kill.

"There is no huge difference other than playing fewer minutes," Conroy said. "But making big trades gave us confidence that we can do some big things. We believe in ourselves."

Calgary has weathered through a tough March. While a 6-8 record in the month before today's game with San Jose would indicate otherwise, Conroy said staying composed will help the Flames fend off surging Vancouver and win the division.

"We've been playing tight, and Vancouver is playing some great hockey," Conroy said. "We need to remember that it's just a game and have fun. We're getting a little bit too tense because we want to do so well."

Conroy wants to win for a city that's been good to him. During his seven seasons in Calgary, the franchise and community have embraced him like a son. A radio station even created "The Craig Conroy song" - which became a YouTube montage - to show its affinity for one of the main Flames.

In return, Conroy has plans to retire in Calgary and wants to play until he's 40. The ultimate gift would be getting the Flames a second championship.

"Whenever you work hard, you want to feel appreciated," Conroy said. "They seem to appreciate what I've done. Now, I just want to give back and bring them a Stanley Cup."

PEVERLEY GETS SECOND CHANCE

It was a rocky start to the new year for Rich Peverley.

The former St. Lawrence University standout struggled to score for the Nashville Predators, and his swagger was eroding. It was his third stint in as many years in the NHL, and Peverley was feeling the pressure.

"The thing in Nashville was that I thought I was playing really well," Peverley said. "I had chances to score, but couldn't put the puck in the net. It was a confidence game."

After scoring two goals in 27 games, the Predators anxiously waived Peverley on Jan. 10. The next stop was the airport. Peverley had a flight booked for San Antonio to play for the Milwaukee Admirals — Nashville's American Hockey League affiliate — the following night.

That's when Nashville realized its biggest fear. The Atlanta Thrashers claimed Peverley off waivers before the 24-hour period expired. Three days of practice is all he needed to reclaim his resolve.

In his second game with Atlanta, Peverley buried the game-winning goal and finished with three points in an overtime win against Toronto. Two games later, he supplied another game-winner in a victory over Montreal.

Peverley has been a reliable scoring option for a Thrashers franchise infused with young talent. He's contributed 10 goals and 19 assists in 33 games.

"I'm playing in every situation and critical situations in games," Peverley said. "My minutes have gone up about 8 a game since I was in Nashville. Once I got the opportunity, I knew I was going to build confidence."

BAGNALL PREPS FOR PLAYOFFS

Drew Bagnall saw the anguish on the faces of the St. Lawrence University men's hockey team.

As each SLU player filed into the locker room following a disappointing weekend at the ECAC Hockey tournament in Albany, it reminded Bagnall of his days as a captain and defenseman for the Saints. The situation was familiar, and Bagnall has endured enough heartbreak to understand how precious the playoffs are.

Bagnall is seven games away from beginning his professional postseason with the AHL's Manchester Monarchs. They were swept in the semifinals of the Calder Cup playoffs last season.

"Right now, we're doing well enough now to have a playoff spot," Bagnall said. "But it's not something you want to take for granted. Every night, you have to go out with the idea that you have to hold on to your playoff spot."

Monarchs head coach Mark Morris has anointed Bagnall with two responsibilities as a seasoned defenseman. Bagnall said Morris — a former head coach at Clarkson and assistant at St. Lawrence — wants him to be stout defensively, but continue to provide a bruising presence on the blue line. Bagnall has also chipped in six assists in 72 games.

But scoring is the last thing Bagnall needs to worry about.

"It's a different world in pro hockey," Bagnall said. "It's a game where you're kind of pigeonholed into roles, and you do your job. That's all that matters. You hope the team wins based on how you do your job."