Calgary Puck

Well that was something, wasn’t it?

When the Flames played arguably their worst game of the season on Thursday against Dallas, a game in which they scored late and found a way to get a point, you had to wonder if things were about to change after a torrid start to the season.

Are they dialing Darryl Sutter out? Has the league figured out their system? Was the other shoe always going to drop?

None of those questions are answered after tonight’s 6-0 victory over a tired New York Ranger club as it’s still early, but a 60 minute, dominant effort sure punts the ball down the field to be answered later.

The Flames were full marks from coast to coast in a game that was really never in doubt.

What a start to the season.

Looking forward to Edmonton fans whining about the Rangers being tired.

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Overtime has not been this team’s friend in this early season.

Four dates on home ice in the first month and change of the season and three overtime losses as the Flames lost to the Dallas Stars by a 4-3 score tonight in Calgary.

The Flames were off tonight.

They didn’t play in synch, they didn’t play as cohesive and tight together. They didn’t play fast. They made a lot of mistakes.

I guess if you’re looking for a bright side it’s the point they earned with a late Nikita Zadorov snipe on a great individual play by Oliver Kylington on a delayed penalty.

They didn’t have it tonight, but they battled, and if that’s a bad game this season, it’s certainly a big step up from their last season.

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When the roster construction was finished, or at least when it appeared to be finished, many thought the Flames would be in every hockey game, potentially out play the opposition, but have trouble finishing making them a bubble team.

To start the season it hasn’t been an issue.

The club jumps on the opposition in the first period, builds a lead, and then relies on a structured system to defend well and take wins home. It’s worked for six straight victories.

Tonight though we saw the original issue; that is out playing the opposition significantly but not getting the returns deserved in dropping a 3-2 overtime game to the Nashville Predators.

The Flames had 20 shots, 17 scoring chances (nine deemed high danger) in the first period but came away down a goal. A third period tying goal by Oliver Kylington got them to overtime so at least they secured a point

That’s points in eight straight games if you’re looking for a silver lining!

The Flames host the Dallas Stars on Thursday night looking to get back on another streak.

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You can forgive Calgary fans for being a little skeptical, perhaps not holding their breath.

In these parts we’re not used to good starts to the season, certainly not used to five game sweep road trips but even with success like that you have that feeling that people are waiting for that shoe to drop.

So the team comes home after the trip and it’s almost expected that they’d come out a little flat and chase a game. But no … the Flames roll out an air tight defensive effort, get some special teams help and then cruise to a 4-0 victory to run their win streak to six.

Coaching matters. Darryl Sutter has the team dialed in. With each consistent effort we see, it just may be that they are as good as they look.

Pffffffffffffffffffff (exhaling).

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Didn’t you get that feeling that this was going to be a final game of a trip story that was titled either “Jacob Markstrom Steal a 1-0 Roady” or “Flames Run Out of Gas and Waste Markstrom Start”?

Not today.

Sure Jacob Markstorm is the story with a 44 save shutout, no debating that, but the Flames came out and did their part too turning a 1-0 lead into the third into a 4-0 lead and victory against the heavily depleted Pittsburgh Penguins to sweep the road trip.

I’m a positive guy, to a fault by some, but I didn’t see this kind of trip despite the team playing better than their record suggested when they began the season 0-1-1. But 5-0-0 is now the second best road trip in team history, which is something else given some of those 80s teams.

The Flames are now first in the Pacific Division and … well first in the Western Conference.

Heck of a start.

Maybe Darryl should have been brought in sooner?

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