The Calgary Flames are off to their best start since their historic 2021-22 season (when they won the Pacific Division) with an impressive 12-6-3 record to begin the 2024-25 campaign.
But this edition of the team has done it a lot differently than the &#8217;21-&#8217;22 Flames. That group won games on the back of the best line in the NHL in Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk.
How are the Flames winning games this season? Well, it’s certainly not from scoring a ton of goals.
The Flames offence has completely dried up after scoring 16 goals in their first three games of the season.
Since Oct. 14, the Flames haven’t scored more than three goals in a game. They rank 30th in the NHL in goals per game.
Just take a look at the top scorers during this 18 game stretch.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-134447" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.14 PM-1024x707.png" alt="" width="1024" height="707" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.14 PM-1024x707.png 1024w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.14 PM-300x207.png 300w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.14 PM-768x530.png 768w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.14 PM.png 1196w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
Special teams have not helped the Flames case either. In their last 18 games, they rank 23rd on the power play and 22nd on the penalty kill. And those numbers have got a lot better thanks to impressive play on the PP and PK in their last three games.
Surely they’ve been playing a great defensive game, right? We’ll let’s take a look at the numbers.
Here are where the Flames rank across the league in key 5-on-5 defensive metrics since Oct. 14:
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-134451" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.31.53 PM-1024x125.png" alt="" width="1024" height="125" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.31.53 PM-1024x125.png 1024w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.31.53 PM-300x37.png 300w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.31.53 PM-768x94.png 768w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.31.53 PM.png 1196w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
The Flames have been the best team in the NHL at 5-on-5 in preventing goals which is incredibly impressive. But as you can see, it’s not necessarily from being the best team at preventing scoring chances. They’re 17th in expected goals against.
So, they can’t score. Special teams are in the bottom third of the league. They don’t prevent scoring chances at an elite rate.
How is this team winning hockey games?
The answer? Goaltending.
Dustin Wolf and Dan Vladar have been keeping the Flames in games this season, especially Wolf.
Let’s take a look at their goaltending stats in two different segments. First will be from Oct. 14-27. And the second is Nov. 1-24.
(I am doing this to leave out the Utah and Vegas games, which were anomalies.)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-134450" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.44 PM-1024x193.png" alt="" width="1024" height="193" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.44 PM-1024x193.png 1024w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.44 PM-300x57.png 300w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.44 PM-768x145.png 768w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.44 PM.png 1196w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-134449" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.36 PM-1024x193.png" alt="" width="1024" height="193" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.36 PM-1024x193.png 1024w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.36 PM-300x57.png 300w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.36 PM-768x145.png 768w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.36 PM.png 1196w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
As you can see, Wolf and Vladar have been the backbone of this Calgary Flames team. Without those two, especially Wolf, giving them above average goaltending, the Flames would be in the basement of the NHL standings.
And one thing we should do is give some credit to Vladar. His numbers haven’t been spectacular like Wolf’s have. But a big reason for that is the quality of competition Vladar has faced this season.
Vladar has started games against the Canucks (x2), Oilers (x2), Hurricanes, Golden Knights, Devils, Wild, Kraken, and Sabres. He’s essentially been given the overwhelming majority of difficult starts and he’s handled it like a pro.
Vladar being thrown to the wolves has helped shelter Dustin Wolf a little bit, and I think that’s been a big reason why he’s been able to get his first full season in the NHL off to a terrific start.
In the end, it doesn’t matter how the Flames goalies go about when and where they go about business. They are getting the job done.
Can the Flames expect this type of goaltending for the rest of the season? Probably not. They’re been really good. It’s hard for even the best goalies in the NHL to play at this level for an entire season.
In order to stay in the playoff picture, the Flames are going to need to start scoring goals. If that can happen, and the Flames goalies continue to give consistent above average starts, then watch out. This Flames team could become dangerous.
<h1>This article is brought to you by Crystal Waters</h1>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-131942" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/CW_logo_Horz_RGB_WhtBkg-1024x341.png" alt="" width="1024" height="341" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/CW_logo_Horz_RGB_WhtBkg-1024x341.png 1024w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/CW_logo_Horz_RGB_WhtBkg-300x100.png 300w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/CW_logo_Horz_RGB_WhtBkg-768x256.png 768w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/CW_logo_Horz_RGB_WhtBkg-1536x512.png 1536w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/CW_logo_Horz_RGB_WhtBkg.png 1800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Crystal Waters is your Crystal Clear Choice for Home Comfort Solutions, including all plumbing, heating, and cooling equipment repairs, maintenance, and installation. Founded in 2001, and completing over 30,000 projects, our qualified professionals are the guardians of your home’s mechanical heart.
Call Crystal Waters Plumbing and Heating today at 403-219-4100 for a complete mechanical system audit, and learn how we can partner with you to ensure your home is optimized for safety, health, and comfort. Or check them out at <a href="http://www.crystalclearcalgary.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.crystalclearcalgary.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727918572019000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3vaooTqBXRsNchXvQ30iLG">www.crystalclearcalgary.com</a>

The Calgary Flames are off to their best start since their historic 2021-22 season (when they won the Pacific Division) with an impressive 12-6-3 record to begin the 2024-25 campaign.
But this edition of the team has done it a lot differently than the '21-'22 Flames. That group won games on the back of the best line in the NHL in Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk.
How are the Flames winning games this season? Well, it’s certainly not from scoring a ton of goals.
The Flames offence has completely dried up after scoring 16 goals in their first three games of the season.
Since Oct. 14, the Flames haven’t scored more than three goals in a game. They rank 30th in the NHL in goals per game.
Just take a look at the top scorers during this 18 game stretch.
<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-134447" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.14 PM-1024x707.png" alt="" width="1024" height="707" />
Special teams have not helped the Flames case either. In their last 18 games, they rank 23rd on the power play and 22nd on the penalty kill. And those numbers have got a lot better thanks to impressive play on the PP and PK in their last three games.
Surely they’ve been playing a great defensive game, right? We’ll let’s take a look at the numbers.
Here are where the Flames rank across the league in key 5-on-5 defensive metrics since Oct. 14:
<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-134451" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.31.53 PM-1024x125.png" alt="" width="1024" height="125" />
The Flames have been the best team in the NHL at 5-on-5 in preventing goals which is incredibly impressive. But as you can see, it’s not necessarily from being the best team at preventing scoring chances. They’re 17th in expected goals against.
So, they can’t score. Special teams are in the bottom third of the league. They don’t prevent scoring chances at an elite rate.
How is this team winning hockey games?
The answer? Goaltending.
Dustin Wolf and Dan Vladar have been keeping the Flames in games this season, especially Wolf.
Let’s take a look at their goaltending stats in two different segments. First will be from Oct. 14-27. And the second is Nov. 1-24.
(I am doing this to leave out the Utah and Vegas games, which were anomalies.)
<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-134450" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.44 PM-1024x193.png" alt="" width="1024" height="193" />

<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-134449" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-2.29.36 PM-1024x193.png" alt="" width="1024" height="193" />
As you can see, Wolf and Vladar have been the backbone of this Calgary Flames team. Without those two, especially Wolf, giving them above average goaltending, the Flames would be in the basement of the NHL standings.
And one thing we should do is give some credit to Vladar. His numbers haven’t been spectacular like Wolf’s have. But a big reason for that is the quality of competition Vladar has faced this season.
Vladar has started games against the Canucks (x2), Oilers (x2), Hurricanes, Golden Knights, Devils, Wild, Kraken, and Sabres. He’s essentially been given the overwhelming majority of difficult starts and he’s handled it like a pro.
Vladar being thrown to the wolves has helped shelter Dustin Wolf a little bit, and I think that’s been a big reason why he’s been able to get his first full season in the NHL off to a terrific start.
In the end, it doesn’t matter how the Flames goalies go about when and where they go about business. They are getting the job done.
Can the Flames expect this type of goaltending for the rest of the season? Probably not. They’re been really good. It’s hard for even the best goalies in the NHL to play at this level for an entire season.
In order to stay in the playoff picture, the Flames are going to need to start scoring goals. If that can happen, and the Flames goalies continue to give consistent above average starts, then watch out. This Flames team could become dangerous.

<h1>This article is brought to you by Crystal Waters</h1>
<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-131942" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/CW_logo_Horz_RGB_WhtBkg-1024x341.png" alt="" width="1024" height="341" />Crystal Waters is your Crystal Clear Choice for Home Comfort Solutions, including all plumbing, heating, and cooling equipment repairs, maintenance, and installation. Founded in 2001, and completing over 30,000 projects, our qualified professionals are the guardians of your home’s mechanical heart.

Call Crystal Waters Plumbing and Heating today at 403-219-4100 for a complete mechanical system audit, and learn how we can partner with you to ensure your home is optimized for safety, health, and comfort. Or check them out at <a href="http://www.crystalclearcalgary.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.crystalclearcalgary.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727918572019000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3vaooTqBXRsNchXvQ30iLG">www.crystalclearcalgary.com</a>

Dustin Wolf and Dan Vladar are carrying the Flames

Recent articles from Robert Munnich

Breaking News