Calgary Puck

The game plan was pretty easy to define.

Control the game five on five, and try to stay out of the box in order to neutralize the Oilers big guns and steer home the season series.

Things looked to be rolling along according to play midway through the third period with the Flames up 2-1 with just over ten minutes to play in the the third period.

But then a rim goes straight to Connor McDavid, the game is tied and Calgary is reeling as Zach Hyman found the game winner, and the Flames couldn’t find the rebuttal.

A very winnable game is suddenly a regulation loss, and the Battle of Alberta tied at a game with the rubber match in Calgary in late December.

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The Flames are now off to their best start in franchise history with five wins in their first six starts.

Have to be happy with that, but also have to wonder how they didn’t have an 8-0 season start somewhere in there given the comparable starts from other hot teams in recent seasons.

But no matter.

The best is the best, and said best was fueled by a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on the strength of a dominant first period, two goals from Nazem Kadri and Johnathan Huberdeau with his first as a Flames.

The Penguins made it spooky (Halloween reference) in the second, but Jacob Markstrom stood tall, making the third period academic.

Flames move their record to 5-1-0 on the season.

Next up the Oilers on Saturday night.

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That was fugly.

The Flames once again came out flat, spotted the opposition two quick goals, but managed to battle back to win the game in overtime when Tyler Toffoli converted a Rasmus Andersson pass to complete the come from behind 3-2 overtime victory.

But don’t walk this out as a classic game from the local guys. The Flames were clearly the second best team on the ice in this one, and were lucky to get the game to overtime, let alone win it.

Details are slipping, and they were saved a two game skid by poor execution by the Hurricanes and a solid game by Jacob Markstrom.

Get to work buys.

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Not easy to remember … but the Flames actually scored first in this one, and then killed off a Buffalo penalty. Five minutes into the game and it looked like the Flames were going to roll out a workmanlike effort and do their thing.

That was it for comfort level on the night, however.

The Sabres scored four straight goals, three in the first period, sending the Flames into chase mode for the rest of the night as the Sabres cruised to a convincing 6-3 victory.

We’d all be happy with a 3-1-0 record through four games to start the season, and this certainly gives Darryl Sutter a coaching and focus moment to keep his team on point, but this one lets a little air out of the tires of a city enjoying a solid start to the season.

Back at it on Saturday night when the Hurricanes come to town.

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What a start to a season!

The Flames have certainly found the results in beating the Stanley Cup Champions, their Provincial rivals, and then tonight recent Pacific Division powerhouse Vegas by a 3-2 come from behind score. But it’s they way they’re getting it done.

They’re not getting carried by goaltending, special teams, suspect officiating, or a bunch of luck or bounces. They’re clearly outplaying the opposition and professionally collecting the two points.

Tonight they had a solid first period but found themselves down by two goals.

In the second they came out hard, moving their feet, and with that drew penalties creating powerplay goals that completed the comeback and sent the game to the third period tied.

Mikael Backlund scored the winner on a great shift by Blake Coleman and the streak continues.

Next up Buffalo on Thursday night. Game time 7.30 pm.

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