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We’ll say this for the 2024-25 Calgary Flames: they’re not boring.
The Flames scored first and never trailed in a surprisingly feisty 60 minutes of hockey in their home-opener against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flames kept battling (and scoring) en route to a 6-3 victory over the Flyers.
The rundown
The Flyers tended to carry play in much of the opening 20 minutes, but the home team opened the scoring just shy of six minutes into the game. And it was a weird goal.
Martin Pospisil was forechecking below the goal line in the Flyers’ zone and won a puck battle. He flung the puck towards the front of the net… and it bounced off Jonathan Huberdeau’s shoulder and into the Flyers net. The play was briefly reviewed to ensure that Huberdeau didn’t deliberately use his shoulder to redirect the puck – that’s a no-no – but the goal counted and the Flames had a 1-0 lead.
Later in the first period, on a four-on-three power play, the Flames took advantage of the time and space and padded their lead. A bit of nice passing in the offensive zone led to a one-timer feed from Andrei Kuzmenko to MacKenzie Weegar at the point, and that shot beat Ivan Fedotov high to give the Flames a power play goal and a 2-0 lead.
First period shots were 18-9 Flyers. Via Natural Stat Trick, five-on-five scoring chances were 9-7 Flyers (high-dangers were 6-3 Flyers).
The Flyers ate into the Flames’ lead midway through the second period… during a Flames power play. The Flames turned over the puck, leaving Rasmus Andersson alone to defend a two-on-one rush. Scott Laughton and Travis Konecny put together a nice little passing sequence, ending with a Konecny redirect past Dustin Wolf to cut Calgary’s lead to 2-1.
But a little later, on a brief five-on-three power play, the Flames (once again) took advantage of some additional space on the ice to manuever. Andrei Kuzmenko had the puck behind the net and passed to Nazem Kadri in the slot, and Kadri picked the top corner on Fedotov to give the Flames a 3-1 lead.
But the Flyers got back within one off a great rush sequence. Bobby Brink launched a saucer pass across the zone to Joel Farabee for a redirect by the far post past Wolf to cut the lead to 3-2.
Second period shots were 12-7 Flyers. Five-on-five scoring chances were 7-6 Flyers (high-dangers were 5-2 Flames).
The third period was fairly tight-checking, but the Flames scored a couple quick ones in the waning moments to give themselves some breathing room.
First, the Flames disrupted a lengthy offensive zone sequence for the Flyers and Connor Zary nudged the puck up ice to send Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman in on an odd-man rush. Coleman fed Backlund for a one-timer and he fired it past Fedotov to give the Flames a 4-2 lead.
https://x.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1845326482962293211
A little later, the Flames cashed in again. This time, Jake Bean put the puck towards the Flyers net. The initial shot was blocked but Pospisil shoved the puck across the net-front area to a wide-open Huberdeau, who deposited the puck past Fedotov to make it a 5-2 Flames lead.
With Adam Klapka in the penalty box, Matvei Michkov registered his first career NHL point as he set up Konecny for a quick shot in-close that beat Wolf to cut the lead to 5-3.
But Kadri added a long-distance empty-netter to give the Flames a 6-3 lead. They held on for the two points.
Third period shots were 16-9 Flames. Five-on-five scoring chances were 12-4 Flames (high-dangers were 6-2 Flames).
Why the Flames won
The Flames made fewer mistakes than the Flyers, and were able to capitalize when the visitors messed up. They managed to out-score their opponents 4-1 at even strength and saw off even on special teams, and that was enough to capture two points.
They started slow, but they got the goaltending they needed early and then got their game tidied up.
Red Warrior
It’s gotta be Huberdeau, who had four points and looked great.
Also quite strong for locals: Wolf, Pospisil, Kadri, Zary, Backlund, Weegar, Kuzmenko and Coleman. A lot of players in red had productive evenings.
Turning point
We’re gonna give it to the Flames’ third period, as they did a great job minimizing strong looks during the Flyers’ late push. In particular, though, the Flames’ (successful) penalty kill with Connor Zary in the box midway through the period and the Flames holding onto a 3-2 lead.
This and that
The Flames put together a beautiful tribute video featuring the late, great Johnny Gaudreau’s best moments as a Flame. It was followed by a lengthy period of applause. Check out the video if you missed it, it was excellent.
This was the Flames debut for longtime farmhand Justin Kirkland.
This was the first time since Feb. 10, 2022 that a Flames goaltender faced 40 shots at home.
Martin Pospisil fought Tyson Foerster in the second period after a neutral zone hit on Jamie Drysdale, who was attempting to swat an airborne puck down. Forester was given the instigator on the play. It was Pospisil’s first regular season NHL fight, and his first fight of any type since one in pre-season in 2023 against the Jets.
Up next
The Flames (2-0-0) are immediately headed up north. They visit the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night at Rogers Place.