Flames have scored three times on man-advantage since Lindholm trade and injection of energy players

Calgary Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar stole the spotlight on Saturday with his first NHL hat-trick, but the re-ignited powerplay is a worthy sidebar. 

Scoring their third goal on the man advantage in three games since the all-star break, the Flames got off to another hot start in the 5-2 win over the Islanders in New York in the weekend matinee when the unit netted the team's second goal before the midway mark of the middle frame.

Powerplay goals have been hard to come by this season. Not so much so far for this new-look Flames squad since Andrei Kuzmenko came over from the Vancouver Canucks in a big trade for Elias Lindholm. 

That's not to say Kuzmenko is the only reason for the resurgence, but he's certainly playing a role. He scored the opening goal on the powerplay in their first game back from the break on Tuesday, setting the tone in a 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins. 

He didn't factor into the scoresheet on Saturday but the Calgary Flames newcomer who scored a goal in each of his first two games was net-front causing havoc as linemate Jonathan Huberdeau potted the rebound has plenty to be happy about.

So do the team’s fans.

The right-handed sniper might have been a salary dump for the Canucks in the trade, but it’s not often you get a guy who’s scored nearly 40 goals in his first NHL season as a throw-in. Especially when he has another year remaining on his contract — which at $5.5M AAV is much less than the Flames would have had to part with to keep Lindholm.

He’s been involved in three straight Flames victories on the road coming out of the extended all-star break, scoring the winner in a 5-3 victory in New Jersey on Thursday and the game’s opening goal to set the tone in that convincing decision over the Bruins.

You might have expected the Calgary Flames players to be a bit deflated about the idea of an impending fire sale ahead of the NHL trade deadline, but they’ve been energized.

Among others, Kuzmenko has been bringing it.

The influx of youth with rookies Connor Zary, Martin Pospisil and Jakob Pelletier is complemented by the 28-year-old Russian winger who scored 39 goals and 74 points in 81 games as a rookie with the Canucks last season.

He spent part of eight years in the KHL before making the jump overseas to North America. Kuzmenko’s spirited and physical play made him a huge fan favourite last year as he flirted with 40 goals.

Things didn’t go as well in Vancouver under new head coach Rick Tocchet. With just eight goals in 43 games prior to being traded, Kuzmenko found himself watching some games from the press box this year. With the Flames, his instant impact alongside Yegor Sharangovich and Jonathan Huberdeau has helped make the powerplay more deadly and brought the offence some overall energy.

Team cameras caught Kuzmenko dancing in the locker-room on the trip — a clear sign of the way he’s embracing his new opportunity with the Calgary Flames.

“What can I say? I’m a positive guy and I want to give energy to this team, because I like these guys a lot. I like this game. I like these moment(s) and I like my new my team in Calgary,” he told reporters in New Jersey. “It's been a good week and great support for me.”

The hot start to the road trip and a four-game win streak dating back to before the break has the Flames on the brink of the playoff battle again, flirting with a wild-card spot. It’s not the traditional path for a team considered the hottest seller on the NHL trade market with the deadline a month away.

But whatever transpires between now and then should be more fun to watch because of the new vitality in the room and on the ice.