Article content continued

The kid loves that part of it. Already.

He’s too talented to be typecast only as a pest, but Tkachuk relishes the role of pain-in-the-you-know-what, takes pride in weaseling under the skin of opponents.

In this case, he started a day early.

“It has no effect on me what (Doughty) says or anybody on their team says,” Tkachuk said. “If it was a pretty dirty play …

“I mean, nobody really did anything about it and nobody on our end really thought it was that bad. But that’s in the past. Tomorrow, it’s just another game and hopefully another game closer to playoffs.”

It could be the clincher.

The Flames have made an early exit in six of the past seven seasons, the only exception being their improbable run to the second round in 2015.

One of the problems was they didn’t have many guys who could make life miserable for stars like Doughty, let alone willing to then exchange snarls in the media.

Ask about his feud with the reigning Norris Trophy winner, and Tkachuk talks with the confidence of a 10-year veteran.

Ask about the possibility of punching a playoff ticket, and his eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning.

“That would be so cool,” Tkachuk said. “I know this team hasn’t been in it too much in the past, and I’ve just heard nothing but unbelievable things. Just to come in this year, it was just a perfect setup, with a great team, great leaders and just a solid management and coaching staff that is on your side and really supports everything you do and they’re in it just as much as the players are.

“And I just think that it would be so meaningful to the fans here that have obviously been wanting a playoff berth. Other than two years ago, it was a long time.

“I think it would just be great for everybody in the city. That would be awesome.”

wgilbertson@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/WesGilbertson