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The Flames’ fourth line is quietly, effectively going about their business

Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

By Ryan Pike

Oct 18, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 18, 2026, 02:13 EDT

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Friends, from time to time, when you’re covering a team and writing and saying many things, on occasion you will write or say things that don’t age well. Well, seven games into the 2026-27 season, allow me to eat a little crow.

I was probably too harsh on the Calgary Flames’ fourth line prior to the season.

That’s not to say that the fourth line group has become the first line and led the Flames to glory. They’re a 1-6-0 team, after all, and they’re working through some challenges with their roster and lineup composition.

But so far, not only has the fourth line group, in its many swirling forms, not been a weak spot, they’ve actually been pretty effective at what the coaching staff has asked them to do.

The fourth line, at a glance

Game 1 (Seattle): Tsyplakov – Pospisil – Klapka [9:06 5v5 TOI; 0 GF, 0 GA]
Game 2 (Vancouver): Tsyplakov – Pospisil – Klapka [6:01 5v5 TOI; 0 GF, 0 GA]
Game 3 (Seattle): started as Tsyplakov – Pospisil – Klapka [6:22 5v5 TOI; 0 GF, 1 GA]
Game 4 (Colorado): Suniev – Castagna – Klapka [6:31 5v5 TOI; 1 GF, 2 GA]
Game 5 (Anaheim): Tsyplakov – Castagna – Klapka [6:28 5v5 TOI; 0 GF, 0 GA]
Game 6 (Anaheim): Tsyplakov – Castagna – Klapka [5:46 5v5 TOI; 1 GF, 0 GA]
Game 7 (Vegas): Tsyplakov – Castagna – Klapka [5:25 5v5 TOI; 0 GF, 0 GA]

All-in all, Adam Klapka has been the constant, with Martin Pospisil at centre for three games before he was elevated to the third line, and Jonathan Castagna joined the group. And as much as Flames fans probably want to see Brennan Othmann get another opportunity to play, arguably nobody on the fourth line has struggled to the point where it’s advantageous to swap them out.

Collectively, this unit has been on the ice for two goals for and three goals against at five-on-five. When you consider that the Flames collectively out-scored 25-9 at five-on-five, the fourth line being minus-1 on a team with a minus-16 situational goal differential is pretty good.

The fourth line bunch, at a glance

In three games on the fourth line, Pospisil had zero points, but he went 11-for-24 on face-offs and generated a 58.4 expected goals percentage. (He was bumped up the rotation after his third game.)

In one game on the fourth line, Aydar Suniev had zero points and generated a 53.0 expected goals percentage. (He was bumped up the rotation soon after that game.)

In four games on the fourth line, Castagna has an assist, gone 16-for-32 on face-offs and generated a 52.9 expected goals percentage.

In seven games on the fourth line, Klapka has two goals and generated a 54.3 expected goals percentage.

In six games on the fourth line, Tsyplakov has one assist and generated a 50.5 expected goals percentage.

Adam Klapka discusses the fourth line

On Saturday, after practice, forward Adam Klapka was asked about his linemates on the fourth line:

“It’s awesome. You know, George, it’s awesome. He’s winning so much face-offs for us, like, the line, so it’s awesome. And Tsyper, it’s awesome to have someone the same size almost like me on the forecheck and he’s going harder and he’s winning a lot of packs for us as well. So yeah, I feel like it’s sitting down and we understand each other like where the other guy is gonna be. So yeah, I really like it. I’m really enjoying playing with him.”

The Flames are back in action on Sunday night when they host the Carolina Hurricanes.

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