Flames 5, Predators 2 post-game embers: How Swede it is
Alan Quine scored. Who saw that coming?
Flames 6, Coyotes 1 post-game embers: the goals don’t stop
Besides the shutout on Nov. 23 against the Vegas Golden Knights, this stretch of the last five games has been easily one of the most enjoyable in recent memory for Flames fans. It turns out that scoring goals outside of the third period is often a recipe for success and hopefully it’s a sign of…
Flames 4, Oilers 2 post-game embers: Battling the comeback
On Friday morning, Ari wrote, “The Flames can’t keep fighting Mike Smith in addition to another NHL team and expect to win,” and she was right. This time the Flames decided to fight another NHL team; themselves; and then, in the hour of twilight, they put it all together again, and came out with a…
Special Teams Science: Zone Entries Against at 4v5
A couple weeks back we took a very brief and high-level look at how the Calgary Flames approached entering the zone on the man advantage. There was no surprise at the time that, well, they were hot and cold. After all, that’s been the calling card of the Flames’ special teams for over a year…
Are the Flames struggling setting up on the power play?
On Saturday morning I touched on how the Calgary Flames have been entering the zone at 5v4, employing some variety of zone entry approaches to try and gain the zone. It should come as no surprise that despite generating entries, despite being given ample opportunities early on, and despite their actual roster talent they’ve already…
First look: Flames special teams for 2018-19
Editorial note: Mike is back all season to provide stories, analysis, and insight into the underlying factors contributing to the Calgary Flames’ special teams.
Half-season review: The Flames’ penalty kill (Part 2)
After yesterday’s foray into the neutral zone, with an emphasis on forechecking formations and zone entry tracking, we’re going to venture into the maws of hell: the defensive zone. For the Calgary Flames this year their rather quick demise and resurgence has seen more attention focused on their neutral zone woes rather than in their…
Half-season review: The Flames’ penalty kill (Part 1)
So we’ve finally crossed the halfway mark of the season and after much turmoil the Calgary Flames’ penalty kill appears to be trending back from the dead. Despite their early season success there were underlying signs that the whole thing was destined for an implosion (which happened, as predicted).
Flames sign Marek Hrivik
It’s been a relatively quiet day for the Calgary Flames relative to the draft or the blockbuster involving Tom McCollum heading to the Detroit Red Wings, but the Flames made a minor move to shore up some depth in signing Marek Hrivik.
Dear Dad, Happy Father’s Day
There’s an obvious and often too easy approach to writing about you dad – on Father’s Day – and drawing a correlation between the relationship and sports. That’s not to say my mother and mothers everywhere haven’t had a major impact on sports in our lives. In particular my mom’s love of basketball and volleyball…
FlamesNation Player Evaluations: Sam Bennett
Sam Bennett, by many respects, has all the necessary inputs to be an NHL forward who provides an impact. Whether he truly reaches the expectations and ceiling perceived when he was drafted in 2014 is still up in the air given this past season’s struggles. That said, with those prerequisites, fans shouldn’t give up just…
FlamesNation Player Evaluation: Michael Frolik
When the Calgary Flames signed Michael Frolik two summers ago, fans had reason to be excited for what Frolik could bring. Not only was he a proven winner with a Stanley Cup ring from his time with Chicago, but he brought with him a skill set the Flames desperately needed. Frolik is by many standards…