Flames quietly make sparks fly
Team doesn’t get much of the spotlight in Canada, but great goaltending, offence make it a contender
The book on the Calgary Flames the last few years was simple: a good team on paper, but not always on the ice. The book is getting rewritten. The Flames are one of the hottest teams in the NHL, on a 9-2-1 run heading into Tuesday’s road date with the Dallas Stars. Their 19 wins were the second-most through 30 games in franchise history. They were also tied for top spot on points in the Western Conference, the first time they’d been that far north in the standings since 1993.
“We’ve been on a good stretch here, but you’re always cautious,” general manager Brad Treliving told the Star in a phone interview. “When things aren’t going well, you’re miserable. When things are going well, you’re worried about them going the other way, so you’re consciously trying not to be miserable.
“But we’re playing well. Our top guys have been terrific. We’re getting contributions from a lot of guys and, like a lot of teams, we’re battling some injuries. So far, so good.”
The Flames have been one of the better stories in a season of surprises, including:
The emergence of the Buffalo Sabres in the Atlantic Division.
The firing of coaches in St. Louis, Chicago, Los Angeles, Edmonton and, most recently, Philadelphia — after a season during which no coaches were fired.
A surge in offence, with 19 players on pace for 100 points (three reached that threshold last season) and 49 on a point- a-game pace, nearly double the number from the same point last season.
Perhaps the Flames are not that big a surprise. Maybe it’s just that they don’t get a great deal of the spotlight in Canada. The Maple Leafs dominate, with a healthy dose of Connor McDavid and the up-and-down Oilers, the feel-good story of the Winnipeg Jets and the always newsworthy Ottawa Senators. The Montreal Canadiens are making a surprising push for a playoff spot, while the Vancouver Canucks have laid the groundwork for a solid future with a bevy of promising youngsters. Treliving doesn’t mind. “Shhh,” he joked. “Nothing to see here.”
Not true. There’s a lot to see with the Flames.
Captain Mark Giordano, for example, is finally getting some recognition as a Norris Trophy candidate, a conversation long overdue.
Through Monday, he had six goals, 29 assists, was plus-21and led the team with 24 minutes and 28 seconds of ice time a night.
“He doesn’t get the recognition he deserves,” Treliving said. “Until you’re around him every day, you don’t realize how good he is. He’s one of those rare guys that touches every part of the game. Five-on-five, he’s playing top players every night. Power play, penalty kill, three-on-three — you name the situation, he’s touching it.”
Goaltending has been better than expected with the tandem of Mike Smith — who struggled early, but has found his game again at age 36 — and David Rittich. Smith won six straight to climb to 8-6-2 overall. Rittich was 11-3-1. “Both have given us the chance to win each time they’re in the net,” Treliving said. “Quite frankly, in the West, you need two goalies with the way the schedule is — the travel, all the rest. It’s hard not to have two guys.”
What might truly drive the Flames, though, is their offence, which can keep up with anyone. Adding Elias Lindholm (17 goals, 20 assists) — in a summertime trade with Carolina — to the top line with Sean Monahan (20 goals, 19 assists) and Johnny Gaudreau (15 goals, 30 assists) has given the Flames a formidable force. “Gaudreau and Monahan have been top offensive players since they entered the league, but … last year we felt if they didn’t do it, we didn’t have that underneath push. Our goal was to become deeper up front.”
Lindholm was the guy, another skilful player who plays all roles and was perhaps underutilized with the Hurricanes last year.
“We felt there was a lot of talent there,” Treliving said, “that he was capable of producing more than he has, and he’s taken off this year.”
So have the Flames.