How long the Flames can continue to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with their comebacks remains to be seen, but it does conjure memories of another underdog Calgary squad
Unsustainable.
That was the word to describe the 2014-15 Calgary Flames who made the playoffs despite being constantly outshot in games, shockingly won 10 games when trailing after two periods and stunningly claimed 20 games when they surrendered the game’s first goal.
It’s the same refrain right now with this year’s edition. The Flames, who sit outside a playoff spot but are within striking distance, continue to defy convention.
Thanks to Thursday’s 3-2 comeback win over the Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary has already won seven games when the opponent has scored first and won five times when trailing after two periods.
If that’s not enough, the Flames have trailed in 21 of the past 22 games and trailed going into the third period in 18 of those 22 outings.
Amazingly, this is happening with their putrid power play™, that has just three goals in the past 15 games.
“There’s only two ways to win in this league and we’ve got one of them down pretty dang well,” forward Blake Coleman said. “If we can figure out the other half, we’ll be in pretty good shape.”
Here are three other takeaways from the win, without leaning any more on the power play woes and allowing goaltender Dustin Wolf his own story after netting his first NHL victory of the season.
Coleman’s offensive rebound
Speaking of Coleman, his game-winning, third-period short-handed marker in Thursday’s tilt is his seventh of the season, which ties him with Elias Lindhom for the team lead. That has Coleman on pace to match his career-best 22-goal campaign with the New Jersey Devils in 2018-19.
“People seem real surprised by that,” he said with a laugh.
Lost in his game-winning goal was winning the face-off, but also worth noting is how Coleman did a little fake and pause before zipping a top-corner shot.
“I’m trying to add a few clubs to my bag, that little stutter, snapped one on net and I was able to catch him sliding,” he said.
The offensive production that has Coleman on pace to post a career season in points has come while maintaining his steady play at both ends of the rink.
Zary good, kid
Connor Zary’s fifth goal of the season may be the easiest he has scored yet this season for the Flames, but his tap-in tally was no complete freebie.
After Adam Ruzicka’s breakaway chance squeaked through Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov, Zary wisely and calmly went to the net and slipped the puck across the line.
Despite being recalled from the minors on Halloween, three weeks after the season started, Zary is fifth among rookies in goals and in the top 10 among freshmen with 12 points in 16 games.
Even the Flames must be ecstatic and a little surprised the 2020 first-round draft choice has provided that much scoring punch already in his career.
Then again, it is a lesson about how minor-league seasoning is worth it as opposed to rushing young players.
Block party
It’s a small detail, and often a case of not enough puck possession, but the Flames have averaged 14.62 blocks per game.
In Thursday’s win, they delivered 18, including final-minute blocks by Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson.
That “anything-to-win” desire was lacking early in the season, and was missing in Tuesday’s clash with the Minnesota Wild, but credit the Flames for ratcheting up their desire and ensuring the win.
