Calgary Puck

We all know the story for season openers … the Flames are now 11 years into a losing streak.

But a quieter streak that continued tonight is home openers vs the Vancouver Canucks and success, tonight the Flames running their win streak to launch the Dome to four with a 3-0 victory on Saturday night.

Calgary played a tight five on five game tonight, giving up next to nothing, and generating pretty much the other way. It was the powerplay that carried the mail with all three goals on the night to add to a decent start on the man advantage in Winnipeg.

The win gets the team off to a pretty solid 1-0-1 start in the North Division, good for a second place tie with the Montreal Canadiens early on in the schedule.

– Full Article –

You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and then you have?

A Calgary Flames hockey game, and an expected opening night loss that featured a world beating first period, a complete misstep in the second followed by a recovery third, and an unfortunate overtime on the way to a 4-3 overtime loss to open the season in Winnipeg.

If you asked me after 20 I’d say the Flames were a well built team that was ready to roll over the rest of the Canadian competition in the newly formed Northern Division. The rest of the way though they were chasing the game, which was disappointing.

Lots to look at and work on for the game on Saturday, when the Flames host the Vancouver Canucks.

That’s 11 in a row folks … sigh.

– Full Article –

Being a Calgary Flames fan builds character.

You develop a certain scar tissue year in and year out as the team consistently finds new ways to under perform or let you down in the post season. That is … in seasons where they make the post season at all.

Have to hand it to the 2019-20 Calgary Flames though, they’ve found a new way to wrap things up in a spectacular fashion that will not only leave a mark, but a lasting image that just won’t go away no matter how long this next off season is.

The Flames did pretty much everything right to start on Thursday night.

They came out flying, completely overwhelmed the Dallas Stars in running up a 8-0 shot lead, and a quick 3-0 lead on goals by Andrew Mangiapane, Johnny Gaudreau and Rasmus Andersson.

Then a complete collapse of both goaltenders in the second period erased a 3-1 lead and replaced it with a 6-3 deficit, in a period where the Stars had 12 shots, the Flames 12 shots. The scoring chances in the second were 7-6 Dallas. Five goals!

From there despite having the overall play, shot attempts, scoring chances, zone time, and expected goal split firmly on their side the Flames were doomed, the season over.

A head scratcher that will not soon be forgotten.

Ouch!

– Full Article –

Honestly that was better.

Sure the Flames lost the game in the end, a 2-1 setback to the Dallas Stars in game five of their best of seven series, but at least they were forcing the issue and in the game.

Far too often in both games three and four the Flames were on their heels and letting the Stars take the game to them.

A rough start for Calgary as the Stars pretty much kept the script from the previous two games for the opening period, but then a push back for both periods two and three had Calgary within inches of tying the game up and forcing overtime.

It certainly makes sense, but the Flames have looked much better when trailing than when tied or up in a game. Desperation possibly, and also the Stars taking the foot off the gas as well.

– Full Article –

Don’t let the final score in overtime fool you.

This one wasn’t even close.

If the Flames had won the opening of this story would be a team getting bounces and how it seems the Flames will go four or five or even six years without a whole lot going right, then every ten years or so they get what seems to be every bounce in an un-probable run.

The Flames started well, but were thoroughly outplayed in the second, third and most of overtime in skating to a 5-4 overtime win with an overtime winner with TJ Brodie breaking his stick. Joe Pavelski paced the Stars with a hat trick.

Series tied at 2-2 and Dallas very much in the driver seat in my opinion.

– Full Article –