Mikael Backlund was first to suggest that this season could follow a familiar script.
And now, as the Calgary Flames hit the quarter-mark of the 2024-25 campaign, it seems that the captain may have been onto something.
It was a decade ago that the ‘Find-A-Way Flames,’ underestimated by just about everybody, earned a surprise playoff berth and then managed to advance to the second round. Even before the puck dropped this fall, Backlund had a hunch that this current crew could also exceed all external expectations.
So far, so good.
Back in 2014-15, the Flames posted a 12-6-2 record in their first 20 games.
This edition is 11-6-3 at that same juncture, just one point off that pace. They’ll be shooting for their fourth straight victory in Saturday’s matinee matchup with the Minnesota Wild at the Saddledome (2 p.m. MT, Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan).
“I just felt like we had some good vibes here, and I felt like we had a better team than people gave us credit for going into this season,” Backlund said, explaining that initial comparison. “And I felt like if we got off to a good start, just like we did in ’14-15, then we could have a good year even though nobody believed in us at all and we could surprise a lot of people.
“I think that’s what we have done so far. That’s what we have to keep doing.”
While this current cast doesn’t rely on the stretch pass, while they don’t necessarily have a candidate to accept the Lady Byng Trophy in sock feet, we can’t ignore the similarities. Especially with their knack for the third-period comeback, you’re already hearing references to the ‘Find-A-Way Flames 2.0.’
Here are five ways that they are taking us on a skate down memory lane …
FLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC
Let’s start with the most obvious comparison.
The 2014-15 Flames simply couldn’t be counted out, and their fans quickly learned that they couldn’t change the channel until the final buzzer. That bunch, coached by Bob Hartley, pulled off 11 victories when trailing at the second intermission.
Ryan Huska’s squad has shown a similar blend of belief and resilience. That started on opening night of the new campaign, when they spotted the Vancouver Canucks a three-goal lead, only to storm back for a 6-5 overtime victory.
Six weeks into this season, the Flames have already been credited with four third-period comeback wins, tied for tops in the NHL in that stat category. They are outscoring their opponents by a 27-17 count in final frames, a huge part of the reason they are sitting in second spot in the Pacific Division standings despite having played only 171:44 with the lead, the third-lowest total of time ahead of any team on the circuit.
PUCK-STOPPING PLATOON
The 2014-15 Flames didn’t have a clear-cut go-to goalie, and that didn’t seem to be a problem. Jonas Hiller was tapped for 44 starts that winter and Karri Ramo logged 32, and they continued to share the twine-minding duties in the playoffs.
The C of Red is clamouring to see more and more of Dustin Wolf — after all, who doesn’t love to howl? — but this current crease share seems to be bringing out the best in both of their masked men. Wolf is off to such a stellar start that he is being billed as a Calder Trophy frontrunner, while Dan Vladar has also been stringing together sharpies.
Wolf and Vladar have combined for a sparkling .942 save percentage in even-strength scenarios, the best mark of any tandem in the league.
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
Part of the reason the Flames were so darn fun to watch in 2014-15 was the emergence of Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, a couple of kid linemates who filled both the score-sheet and the seats at the Saddledome. (RIP, Johnny.)
This current squad doesn’t necessarily feature a budding superstar, which is what Gaudreau was, but they are trusting up-and-comers to in several prominent roles.
The three youngest dudes on the active roster are Matt Coronato, Connor Zary and Wolf.
Coronato, who turned 22 earlier this month, is tied for the team lead with six goals.
Zary is now auditioning at centre on what could be considered Calgary’s top line, and the 23-year-old notched the game-winner in Thursday’s 3-2 triumph over the New York Rangers.
Wolf is also 23 and if this was springtime, we’d probably be talking about him as the presumed playoff starter.
SHOOTOUT SURPRISE
One of the most memorable moments of the 2014-15 campaign was a gorgeous shootout goal by depth defenceman David Schlemko. He had been plucked off waivers just days before that eighth-round eye-popper against the Boston Bruins.
While that occurred in the month of the March, the 2024-25 Flames have already discovered their under-the-radar shootout ace.
Justin Kirkland has been one of the best stories in the NHL this fall, and the journeyman forward is nails in the breakaway competition. ‘Costco’ has two shootout-ending snipes so far, having clinched victories over the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old Kirkland hasn’t tried ‘The Schlemko’ yet — he has his own signature move that seems to be working wonders — but there’s still time for that.
MIKAEL BACKLUND
There’s only one roster holdover from 2014-15, and that would be the gent who first tried to tip us off that we could be treated to some deja vu this season.
If you followed that inaugural edition of the ‘Find-A-Way Flames,’ you will remember a reliable centre who handled tough defensive matchups, played significant minutes on the penalty-kill and chipped in with some clutch offensive contributions. Sound familiar?
Backlund now has a ‘C’ stitched on his sweater — Mark Giordano was the captain back then — and 1,000-plus games on his resume, but he is certainly not showing any signs of slowing down at 35. In fact, he is averaging more icetime than any other Flames forward.