The Calgary Flames are undefeated.
Yeah, it’s early, but few — if any — predicted that they’d be 3-0 at this stage of their schedule.
As the Flames enjoy their scorching start, and prepare for Tuesday’s clash against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks, we debut a new weekly feature. Postmedia’s beat reporters, Danny Austin and Wes Gilbertson, check in to debate Three Hot Topics …
Are the Flames better than they were getting credit for? Can they keep this up?
AUSTIN: I mean, the Flames aren’t going to go 82-0, but I do think we can confidently say they’re not nearly as bad as some were making them out to be this summer. Yes, they’re short of the elite-elite talent that the NHL’s best teams all have, but they come at opponents in waves and are getting scoring from up-and-down the lineup. So far, their goaltending has been solid with both Dustin Wolf and Dan Vladar looking good, and they’re clearly comfortable with the physical side of the game. I’m still not picking them to make the playoffs, but if they can keep their current standard going they’ll be in the mix a lot longer than many were predicting.
GILBERTSON: How many of us watched the Vancouver Canucks storm to a three-goal lead in the opening period of Game 1 and had the exact same thought? Something along the lines, ‘Yeah, it’s going to be a long season for these Flames.’ Jake Bean later described that as “a slap in the face with adversity right away,” and you have to admire the way they responded. I think it’s way too early to say that all those projections were wrong — there’s a reason nobody makes a big deal of the playoff picture at Canadian Thanksgiving — but it’s worth noting that even if the rest of us want to wait and see, these guys clearly believe. That can go a long way.
After Sunday’s triumph in Edmonton, the Flames were tied for tops in the NHL with 16 goals for. Nine diferent played have tickled twine, with 14 collecting points. When you check the team scoring stats, what is the biggest surprise?
AUSTIN: I can’t ignore that Rasmus Andersson is tied for the league lead in points by defencemen, with five, and I think it’s notable that MacKenzie Weegar isn’t far behind with three. Those two are as important as any player on the Flames’ roster and are big parts of the leadership group. They’re stepping up in a big way. The second-period goal that Andersson scored against the Oilers on Sunday night was spectacular and seemed to knock the stuffing out of the Edmonton crew. Andersson also scored late in the second period against the Canucks to get the Flames’ comeback going, and Weegar tied things up in that game. They’re big players producing big moments, which is exactly what teams need from their leaders.
GILBERTSON: The biggest surprise is just the 16 goals part. Some figured this team would struggle to score, but that hasn’t been an issue so far. From an individual standpoint, the biggest surprise for me is that Martin Pospisil is tied for tops on the team with five points. Make no mistake, I expected Pospisil to be a major factor — despite the added responsibilities of playing the pivot position, he leads his crew with 10 hits — but perhaps he is capable of more offensive oomph than I realized. It hasn’t gone unnoticed that Pospisil’s linemates, Jonathan Huberdeau and Anthony Mantha, are pushing their own pace to try to keep up with their speedy centre. (This intriguing trio has combined for six goals already.)
What has been the defining moment of the Flames’ scorching start?
AUSTIN: There have been a few but, for me, it’s got to be Connor Zary’s overtime winner in the opener against the Canucks. After a terrible first period that saw them down 4-1 at intermission, the Flames had fought their way back into the game. Zary’s goal was a beauty and sent a signal that this team was capable of a little razzle-dazzle after they’d just shown their grit with the comeback. With four points in three games, Zary’s early-season play is also indicating that there’s no sophomore slump coming from the 23-year-old and the way Pospisil drove to the net and distracted the Canucks was one of those little under-the-radar things he does that make him so valuable.
GILBERTSON: The best moment has been Justin Kirkland’s first NHL goal, and that million-watt smile from the 28-year-old as he buried a rebound Sunday to realize a lifelong dream. But for me, the defining moments — yeah, plural — have been a pair of clutch defensive contributions from third-pairing rearguard Brayden Pachal. In Vancouver, he robbed Nils Hoglander of the would-be go-ahead goal with what he later described as a mini-sticks save. Against the Philadelphia Flyers, his superb stick-check prevented Travis Konecny from finishing off a back-door tap-in that would have evened the score. This team is going to need absolutely everybody to pitch in, and those two plays by Pachal are prime examples. If Hoglander or Konecny capitalize in those moments, are we talking about a 3-0 team?
Is there a Hot Topic that you’d like Danny Austin and Wes Gilbertson to discuss next week? Send you idea to [email protected] or [email protected]