When the Calgary Flames players woke up on Sunday morning, a few days before Christmas and an extended break from NHL action, they did so in a playoff position.
The spot may be short lived with a couple more days of games on other teams’ schedules before the holiday pause, but the Flames made their point with another victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Saddledome on Saturday afternoon.
The matinee featured plenty of goals — on both sides. The Flames netted six for the first time since the first week of the NHL season. But despite a 5-1 lead heading into the third period, the Flames needed an empty netter from captain Mikael Backlund to lock things up. Connor Bedard and company were not about to quit.
It was Connor Zary and company that prevailed, thanks to some timely saves from Dustin Wolf and two-point games from Zary and fellow youngster Matt Coronato, as well as veterans Jonathan Huberdeau and Blake Coleman.
Things have been inconsistent for the Flames franchise this season, but with the end of the calendar year just around the corner, these players have shown they’re capable of just about anything. The chemistry being developed is a good sign for the long-term future of a team in transition. Seeing Zary (who was named the game’s first star) and Coronato thrive during a game against a generational NHL player in Bedard should have Flames fans feeling optimistic about the years ahead.
Zary is producing points on the powerplay but also at five-on-five despite third-line minutes. He’s really clicked with off-ice bestie Jakob Pelletier, and their second-period goal and resulting celebration really showcased that connection. Pelletier is discovering an offensive touch at the NHL level after spending much of the year in the AHL. The 23-year-old has four assists in his last seven games.
Coronato is quietly playing on the Flames’ most important line alongside Backlund and Coleman, who take on the opponents’ top players on a nightly basis. It was Coronato’s second straight multi-point night, and the 22-year-old winger now has three goals and eight points in his last eight games — including a four-game point streak.
With Coronato, Zary and Pelletier producing up front and Wolf providing a solid presence in goal, the development side of this season’s Flames franchise is showing plenty of promise.
The veterans are having some fun, too. Coleman has a five-game streak going, with three goals and six points in that span. Backlund has a pair of goals and four points in his last four (going without a point in just one of them). And the duo of Nazem Kadri and Huberdeau has become dynamic. Huberdeau’s pair of points on Saturday gives him six goals and 13 points in his last 10 games. The 31-year-old is now on pace for 30 goals and 60 points this season. Maybe not what you’re looking for from a player making more than $10 million a year, but it would be his best season since joining the Calgary Flames from the Florida Panthers in the blockbuster Matthew Tkachuk trade two summers ago.
Kadri is on a similar trajectory. A big dip from last season statistically, but he’s been on a heater over the second quarter of this year, with five goals in his last six games — including a couple worthy of the highlight reel — and has eight goals and 14 points in his last 17 games.
All of this has helped the Flames stay in the playoff hunt, and that’s all you can ask for this season. If all three of the top lines can keep developing this offensive chemistry, it should help the hang onto that playoff hope into the new year and beyond.
Related: 3 Takeaways From Flames Close 6-4 Win Over Blackhawks
