Finally, something positive the Calgary Flames lead the league in.
Exploding for a season-high six goals in a 6-2 win in Buffalo Wednesday night, the Flames have won an NHL-best 40 straight games when scoring four goals or more.
It’s a streak no other team in the league comes close to matching.
Eclipsing the three-goal mark for just the fourth time this season, the Flames broke a 2-2 tie in the third period with four-straight goals from four different players.
In three cases, the goal they scored was their fourth of the season.
How fortunate.
All said, seven different Flames had multi-point games, led by Rasmus Andersson’s goal and two assists.
“Been getting the bounces lately and it feels good,” said Andersson, who has scored in back-to-back games.
“The whole year we kind of just had games where it feels like we’ve had so many chances and so many bounces that didn’t go our way, it’s nice to get rewarded for it, finally,” added Joel Farabee, a native of Syracuse, N.Y., who scored twice in front of a large contingent of family and friends.
“Naz(em Kadri) and Sharky (Yegor Sharangovich) just made so many good plays the whole night and made it really easy for me.”
Jonathan Huberdeau, Kadri and Sharangovich all had a pair of assists, while Matt Coronato and Morgan Frost each chipped in a goal and an assist.
“Much better – there’s a pretty complete game for us from start to finish,” said Ryan Huska, one night after being furious over his club’s effort.
“It was nice to see the guys score some goals tonight, even a couple that were lucky – we haven’t seen a lot of those.”
Indeed, following an opening quarter of the season in which the Flames have had very little puck luck while posting the league’s lowest shooting percentage, the evening was capped with a Coronato chop at the puck that bounced high off the glass behind Sabres goalie Colten Ellis, and in off the back of the netminder’s leg.
More takeaways from a game that sent the Flames back to Calgary in a good mood:
Cooley and the gang
Devin Cooley picked up his first win as a Flame since Apr. 11, 2024, making 28 saves to earn a steady line of well-wishers on the ice, congratulating him for what has been a long road between NHL triumphs.
“He’s been awesome for us,” said Farabee of the Flames backup, who is now 1-2-1 in six appearances, posting a stellar 1.80 GAA and .935 save percentage.
“For a guy who hasn’t played much, for him to come in on a tough back-to-back and play that way is awesome, and we’re pumped for him.”
Challenging times
A key moment in the game came with five minutes left in the first period, with the Flames up 2-0.
Rasmus Dahlin scored to narrow the gap, but Flames eagle-eyed video coach Jamie Pringle prompted Huska to challenge for goalie interference by Tage Thompson.
Despite having two previous challenges this season denied, including one the previous game, Pringle was spot on, as the league’s video review determined Thompson impaired Cooley’s ability to play his position in the crease prior to the shot.
The decision was made in accordance with Rule 69.1, which states, in part, “Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal.”
The new guy
Plenty of eyes were on John Beecher, who started the day introducing himself to his new teammates, one day after being claimed off waivers from Boston.
Brought in for his speed and size as a fourth-line centre, he had to start his Flames stint on the left wing after Sam Morton was one of the Flames’ best players the night before.
It meant fan favourite Ryan Lomberg had to take a seat for the evening.
It was a quiet night for Beecher, who played two-and-a-half of his almost 13 minutes helping Calgary’s penalty kill unit go a perfect 3-for-3.
He had two shots on goal, one hit and forced a turnover in Buffalo’s end early in the third period to set up a good Adam Klapka chance.
One night after Klapka tied a franchise record with 11 hits, the big man had just one, while Morton added two.
The Flames flew home after the game to prepare for a Saturday affair with Dallas, before jetting off on a five-game trip through Vancouver, Tampa, Sunrise, Carolina and Nashville.
