The Calgary Flames appeared to be in trouble heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off break, as they had lost three straight games and were set to enter a very tough schedule upon return. They were able to pick up a win they both should have gotten and needed on Sunday, defeating the San Jose Sharks by a 3-2 final, though many still felt they were in trouble given their upcoming road trip.
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It’s only one game of a six-outing road trip for the Flames, but so far, so good, as they were able to defeat one of the NHL’s best in the Washington Capitals by a 3-1 final on Tuesday night. With the win, the Flames have pulled back ahead of the Vancouver Canucks for a playoff spot, and will need more efforts like last night’s going forward if they hope to stay in front. With that said, here are the three main takeaways from this enormous win.
Vladar Shuts the Door
Many Flames fans voiced their frustration yesterday after learning that it would be Dan Vladar, not Dustin Wolf, who was getting the start. The 27-year-old has had a rough season to date, which has resulted in him turning into a true backup, rather than being involved in more of a tandem role for the first half of 2024-25.
Vladar shut down the naysayers in this one in what was arguably his best performance of the season, kicking aside 26 of the 27 shots he faced. While the lone goal he allowed to Alex Ovechkin in the third period was one he would have liked back, he made no other mistakes and was undoubtedly the reason his team picked up two points.
Depth Scoring Continues
The Flames had some unlikely heroes on Sunday against the Sharks, with Kevin Rooney and Joel Hanley scoring goals in the close-knit outing. While neither Rooney nor Hanley hit the scoresheet in this one, they were able to get out to a 1-0 lead just past the midway point of the first period thanks to Martin Pospisil putting home his fourth of the season.
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Picking up assists on Pospisil’s goal were two unlikely candidates in Ilya Solovyov and Ryan Lomberg. It was a massive goal which gave the Flames some serious momentum, as they were able to put home another one a short time later to give themselves a 2-0 lead going into the second period. The depth scoring will need to continue over these final 25 games this season.
Coronato’s Lethal Shot on Display
The Flames have a true gem in Matt Coronato. While there are still areas of his game that need improving, his offensive abilities often make it hard to believe that he is still just 22 years old. Even crazier to think back on is the fact that he was briefly sent to the American Hockey League (AHL) early this season.
Coronato’s time in the AHL is over and done with, as he’s racked up 15 goals and 31 points through just 52 games this season. His skill was fully on display on his tally in the first period last night, as he wound up on a partial breakaway and was able to get off his phenomenal shot, placing it over the glove hand of potential Vezina Trophy candidate Logan Thompson.
Looking Ahead for the Flames
The Flames have three games remaining this week, the first of which will take place on Thursday night versus the Tampa Bay Lightning. They will then be back in action on Saturday afternoon versus the Florida Panthers, before another afternoon outing on Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
