Here's a look at the best performances by a Calgary Flames player in February.
February may be the shortest month, but that hasn't stopped several Calgary Flames players from stockpiling points. Today, we want to look at the best statistical performances in a season by a Flames player in February.
Most Goals - Kent Nilsson & Jarome Iginla (13)
In 1982-83, Kent Nilsson set a Flames franchise record for most goals in February, lighting the lamp 13 times in 12 games. At the time, he also tallied 18 points, one of the top 20 best totals of the month.
In February 1983, Nilsson recorded back-to-back hat tricks, one against Montreal (Feb. 3) and one against Pittsburgh (Feb. 7). He also had two two-goal games against Chicago (Feb. 16) and St. Louis (Feb. 26).
Overall, Nilsson scored a goal in seven games, including five straight.
Twenty years later, in 2002-03, former captain Jarome Iginla tied Nilsson's record of 13 goals, achieving the feat in 12 games.
Surprisingly, 13 of Iginla's 35 goals that season came in February, including the only four-goal game of his career on Feb. 23 against Arizona. He also recorded a hat trick against Edmonton on Feb. 7.
In the month, Iginla scored in seven games with two streaks of three games.
Most Points - Kent Nilsson (26)
On top of owning the record for most goals (13) and assists (18) in February, it's unsurprising that Nilsson is the only Flames player to record 25 or more points in the month.
In 1980-81, he set the record with a 25-point performance, thanks to ten goals and 15 assists. In 1983-84, he scored only eight goals but had 18 assists, breaking his mark with 26 points in 15 games.
Surprisingly, Nilsson scored in 14 of 15 games, only failing to get on the scoresheet against Washington on Feb. 8. That month, he had seven multi-point contests, including a four-point and five-point night.
During the final three games of the month, Nilsson had nine points with a season-high five points against Los Angeles on Feb. 28.
Most Power-Play Goals - Dan Quinn & Kristian Huselius (Six)
While Nilsson was out setting and breaking records, his teammate Dan Quinn would set the franchise record for six power-play goals for February in 1983-84.
During his rookie season, Quinn scored a power-play goal in the first and last games of the month. However, he only scored one in consecutive games on one occasion, on Feb. 18 and Feb. 19, against Boston and Vancouver.
Interestingly, six out of his eight goals that month came on the man advantage.
Twenty-three years later, Kristian Huselius would tie Quinn's mark, tallying six power-play goals in February 2007.
Unlike Quinn, who spread out his goals, Huselius scored all his power play tallies in just three games. He had multi-goal efforts against Chicago (Feb. 6), Buffalo (Feb. 10), and Colorado (Feb. 15).
However, like Quinn, six of eight goals Huselius scored in February came on the man advantage.
Most Shorthanded Goals - Kent Nilsson (Three)
Nilsson certainly loved playing in February, compiling some of his best statistics during the month. In addition to several top marks, including goals, assists, and points, he scored the most shorthanded goals.
During his magical 1983-84 season, Nilsson scored three of his nine shorthanded goals that month. Before February, he had five but added three more against the New York (Rangers) on Feb. 2, followed by Pittsburgh (Feb. 16) and Los Angeles (Feb. 26).
Interestingly, Nilsson scored his ninth shorthanded goal in the season's final game against Los Angeles on Mar. 29.
Most Game-Winning Goals - Al MacInnis & Sean Monahan (Four)
Al MacInnis became the first Calgary player to record four game-winning goals in February, achieving the feat in 1994.
That season, he scored five goals, the most he'd ever scored in a single season with the Flames. Four of them occurred in February against Los Angeles (Feb. 2), Edmonton (Feb. 5), Edmonton (Feb. 7), and Los Angeles (Feb. 26).
MacInnis' three consecutive game-winners marked the first time anyone achieved the feat and remains the franchise record for any game-winning goal streak, shared with Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm.
Feb 10, 2022; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Sean Monahan (23) during the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn ImagesRegarding Monahan, he matched MacInnis' totals 24 seasons later in February 2018. Like his predecessor, Monahan recorded three straight game-winners, including back-to-back against Chicago on Feb. 3 and Feb. 6, and then recorded the winner against New Jersey on Feb. 8.
His other game-winner came on Feb. 22 against Arizona. Monahan finished the season with 11, which is one shy of the franchise record for game-winners in a season, which is 12 by Joe Mullen in 1986-87.
