Calgary Puck

I think most hockey fans in Calgary would admit the double whammy of a Mikael Backlund concussion and a Mark Giordano suspension had them somewhat nervous with back to back games on the schedule against a very good Nashville Predators and a rivalry game against a suddenly streaking Edmonton Oilers.

The team came into play with a 8-1-1 record in their last ten games, so a blip or two on the radar wouldn’t be a crime, but you’d hate to see the team give back too much of what they’ve gained. With a big 5-2 third period win over the Predators tonight it almost puts the weekend to bed without that worst case scenario as they travel to Edmonton looking for the shorthanded sweep tomorrow night.

Instead of facing the possibility of back to back losses, the Flames keep on rolling, using depth scoring by way of Oliver Kylington and Alan Quine and another good effort from Mike Smith to move into first place in the Western Conference standings.

The depth gets tested again, and again Stockton comes in swinging.

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Good teams win games many different ways.

Sometimes it’s a jump ball and a last one to shoot wins. Sometimes it’s a special teams battle. Sometimes it’s a grind fest with little by way of scoring chances and highlight reel action.

Tonight the Flames ran their win streak to four straight games, points in six straight, but outlasting the Minnesota Wild to the tune of 2-0 on the strength of a Elias Lindholm hat trick … ok one of them didn’t count but you get the point.

The win moves the Flames to 18-9-2 and the best start in almost a quarter century in Calgary making GM Brad Treliving look somewhat brilliant with the current head coach and depth at all positions.

Merry Christmas!

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A good old fashioned game for a box full of older guys!

The Calgary Flames treated their fathers to back to back relatively thrilling road victories this week; a 3-2 wide open win in Chicago, and then a 4-1 deficit erasing 9-6 barn burner in Columbus as the team pushed it’s record to 17-9-2.

Tonight all four goaltenders got into the game, both coaches looked livid and the Flames were carried by an electric game by their top line as both Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau put up four points on the night.

Bill Peters will be happy with the road mini trip sweep but also somewhat concerned on the team’s coverage and ability to lock down a game.
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I swear Mike Smith is a happy goaltender when the Flames play loose and give up way too many odd man chances.

In recent weeks the Flames have enveloped the opposition with a blanket of security, leaving their goaltenders very little to do. In some of those games however a weak goal or two was Mike Smith’s downfall causing the city to wonder if a new starter was born. That wasn’t the problem tonight though as the Flames outplayed the Hawks but bent ugly when they bent giving up numerous breakaways and odd man chances only to have Mike Smith go “zone” and secure the win.

The Flames are going to want to batten down those hatches again for Tuesday night in Columbus, for tonight it made for an entertaining 3-2 victory.

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Now there’s a good sports day in Calgary.

The Flames get up 6-0 by scoring two goals in each of the three periods in a 6-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes, followed by the Calgary Stampeders beating the Red Blacks to capture the 2018 Grey Cup. Quite a day in deed.

The Flames were never in any danger in the desert, jumping into a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Sean Monahan and Noah Hanifin and then building on the lead period to period. In the end both Hanifin and Mark Jankowski had two goals apiece as the Flames scored three short handed goals to rout their hosts and knot their two game road trip at a win apiece.

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