Calgary's blueliners have combined for 26 points during the team's eight-game run that has pulled them from the depths of the standings
Thanks to a 5-1-2 run, the Calgary Flames (7-8-3) are two points back of a wild-card spot heading into Wednesday’s road clash with the Nashville Predators (7-10-0).
Among the myriad reasons the Flames are faring better since their six-game losing skid is the offensive production from the defence corps. It was especially evident in Monday’s 4-3 overtime victory over the Seattle Kraken.
In their last eight games, during which the Flames have scored 30 goals, the blueline brigade has collected eight goals and 18 assists.
Against the Kraken, Rasmus Andersson scored the game-winner to cap a three-point outing, while Chris Tanev, MacKenzie Weegar and Noah Hanifin all posted one assist.
The turnaround has been spread among the defencemen, too. To no surprise, Andersson (two goals, five assists) leads the way in the past eight outings, but Hanifin (3-2-5), Weegar (2-2-4), Nikita Zadorov (1-3-4), Nick DeSimone (0-4-4) and Tanev (0-2-2) are all making an impact.
By comparison, the Predators defence corps has combined this season for six goals and 32 points — of which Roman Josi has collected three goals and 11 points. That is over 17 games.
During the six-game losing skid, Calgary’s defencemen combined for only one goal and five assists, and Weegar was responsible for the lone goal and two of those helpers.
The Flames (7-8-3) are still a bottom-third squad offensively, but knowing full well their best chance at success is a scoring-by-committee approach, this is an important development.
