Flames put their season-best winning streak on the line with one last home date before heading out on a three-game trek

The Calgary Flames have posted a five-game winning streak for the first time since late in the 2021-22 campaign thanks to a 4-3 comeback win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

Unfortunately for the Flames (30-25-5, 65 points) as they kick off a stretch with four games in seven days in four different cities, that run — part of a 9-3-0 spree — has pulled them no closer to a playoff position than they were a month ago.

Still, and with the trade deadline — FINALLY — arriving this Friday, the Flames continue to fight to make the Stanley Cup tournament. The trade deadline will draw the biggest attention, with the fate of Noah Hanifin and even goalie Jacob Markstrom in the spotlight, but the Flames can make a huge statement with a successful run against a quality selection of opponents before for a four-game homestand.

Here is a look at the opposition this week.

Monday: versus Seattle Kraken (26-23-11, 63 points)
Like the Flames, the Kraken are hanging around in the playoff chase, but with a slim margin for error. Seattle had a modest two-game winning streak snapped on Saturday with a 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The Kraken boast a 5-2-1 run as they begin a two-game trip that includes a clash in Winnipeg.

Calgary’s fifth-ranked penalty kill will be put to the test. Seattle has a middle-of-the-pack power play over the course of the season, but has converted an advantage in six of the last seven games (6-for-24).

The Flames have an all-time 8-2-0 record versus the Kraken, and have won two of the three meetings already this season. The lone loss was a 2-1 game in Calgary on Dec. 27.

Thursday: at Tampa Bay Lightning (33-24-6, 72 points)
The Lightning hold the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card position, but are looking over their shoulder. Tampa Bay snapped a two-game skid by erasing deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 en route to a shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

To no surprise, leading the way are Nikita Kucherov, who is on a six-game point streak (2-9-11) and Brayden Point, who has netted seven goals and 11 points in a nine-game run. Add Steven Stamkos and it is easy to see why they boast the league’s best power play.

That said, defending has been an issue all season, even with goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Flames won the first meeting this season, a 4-2 game in Calgary in mid-December, and taken three of the last four clashes. Who knows? Maybe the Flames will leave Hanifin in Tampa Bay after the game. Or, maybe even face him in the game.

Saturday: at Florida Panthers (41-16-4, 86 points)
Speaking of Hanifin, the league-leading Panthers are also reportedly interested in acquiring and re-signing him. Wouldn’t it be something if he joined Matthew Tkachuk et al on that squad.

The Panthers are on a roll, with Saturday’s 4-0 dismantling of the Detroit Red Wings putting them on a four-game winning streak and on a 14-2-0 run. Pick any part of the game, and the Panthers are excelling. They’ve even scored six power-play goals in the last four games.

Speaking of Tkachuck, after a slow start to the season, he is up to 21 goals and 68 points, and Sam Reinhart is at the 42-goal mark. The Panthers have outscored opponents 59-37 in the first period and 76-50 in the third period. Calgary has won the last four clashes, including a 3-1 game at the Saddledome on Dec. 18.

Sunday: at Carolina Hurricanes (36-19-6, 78 points)
The Hurricanes are six points back of the New York Rangers for top spot in the Metropolitan Division, and have a seven-point bulge on the third-place Philadelphia Flyers. In their typical quiet style, the Hurricanes have cobbled together a 6-2-1 run, but received a hard lesson on Saturday when they surrendered five unanswered third-period goals in a 5-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

Carolina continues to be a very good all-around team, led by a deep crew of forwards with the likes of Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Martin Necas, Teuvo Teravainen and Andrei Svechnikov. The lone question mark is whether their four-headed goaltender monster — with Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta currently injured and Pyotr Kochetkov and Spencer Martin holding the reins — can hold up and do the job. The Flames may have a top-shelf goalie who could be acquired. 

The Flames have won the last three meetings, among them a 3-2 game in Calgary on Dec. 7.