WA-VAN-HughesPettersonInjuries The Calgary Flames continue to defy the odds, and after their wildly entertaining 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks on New Year's Eve, they will wake up on the first day of 2025 sitting in a playoff spot. On a festive night, the Flames didn't disappoint their fans with one of their best games of the season. Whether it was Dustin Wolf's split saves, Ryan Lomberg's fights or Connor Zary crashing the crease for goals, this latest Calgary and Vancouver game had it all. Let's dig into the takeaways from one of the Flames' best performances in 2024. THE BIG BOYS CAME TO PLAY It felt like old-time hockey on Tuesday night at the Saddledome. There were plenty of big hits, fights, after-the-whistle scrums, big saves, and 50 penalty minutes. Despite the heated atmosphere, things never got out of hand because the game remained close until the third. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQI6Lv8AflQ[/embed] Zary gave the Flames a 1-0 lead in the first period, and then the team rode Wolf's excellent play until the third. Even though the Cancuks managed to tie the contest with a powerplay goal, the team's two biggest offensive stars, Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau, sealed the win. It was a team effort; everyone was involved in the action, blocking shots, taking hits, making plays, and protecting the house. The Flames continue defying the odds with performances like Tuesday night. FLAMES SHOULD PLAY FOR HOME ICE IN THE PLAYOFFS With his 10th victory at home, Wolf became Calgary's fastest goalie to ten home wins in a single season, achieving the feat in only 12 games. Calgary is now 13-4-3 at the Saddledome, one of four Western Conference teams in the playoff picture on Jan. 1 with at least 13 home wins. Realistically, it won't matter if they are home or away because qualifying for the playoffs is more than most predicted at the start of the season. When so many people wrote them off and pegged them to be a Draft Lottery team, victories like the one against the Canucks, who are considered Stanley Cup contenders, will stand as a defining moment of the season. There must be something in the Calgary water that brings the best out of the Flames every time they pull on a red or black sweater. LOMBERG IS ONE OF THE BEST ADDITIONS IN RECENT YEARS Many said to tear it down, let the kids play, and kickstart the rebuild; the window is closed. Then Lomberg came to town, and nothing was the same. Fresh off a Stanley Cup title win with the Florida Panthers in June, he's become a ball of energy and a spark plug for a Flames team loaded with talented youngsters and savvy veterans. On Tuesday night, he dropped the gloves twice in six minutes, reminding his teammates he's not afraid of a challenge. He will bring his passionate play to every game and is willing to dig in the trenches to help his team win. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FLAMES & CANUCKS TRIVIA ANSWERS How did you score in our Game Day Trivia [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/game-day/flames-senators-game-day-hockey-trivia-dec-19https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/game-day/flames-blackhawks-game-day-hockey-trivia-dec-21https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/game-day/flames-sharks-game-day-hockey-trivia-dec-28https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/game-day/3-takeaways-from-flames-3-0-shutout-loss-to-golden-knights] quiz? Here are the answers. 1. undefined 2. undefined 3. undefined 4. undefined 5. undefined 6. undefined 7. undefined 8. undefined 9. undefined 10. undefined Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExNDI4NzY0NzEyNzA3MjMx/thncgybanner-bookmark.png]
