On Monday night, the Calgary Flames played a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs that got away from them. On Tuesday night, the Flames played a much better game against the New York Rangers that did not get away from them.

The Flames allowed a goal on the second shot they faced 1:13 into the game. But they held the Rangers to just 11 shots from then on out, out-shooting them 35-13 overall and beating them by a 2-1 score. Nazem Kadri and Matt Coronato scored in the win.

“That’s one of the best we played all year for sure,” said Flames head coach Ryan Huska. “We gave one up early, which is never a good thing, but I just felt like the guys were committed to doing things the right way tonight. I thought their goalie was excellent. I thought this was a night where we could have scored more than two or three, but their goaltender was excellent as well.”

The prototypical Flames win this season has been low-scoring, tight-checking, and has largely featured the Flames rolling their lines at even strength and wearing their opposition down. Following the game, forward Jonathan Huberdeau – who had five shots, tied for the team lead – described the style of game pretty succinctly.

“We played the Flames way,” said Huberdeau. “I think we played a tight game and they didn’t get a lot of shots. I think they were playing on the perimeter. So that was good on our part. And I think, and especially on the back to back, I really liked the effort. Guys were blocking a lot of shots and, you know, we found a way to win.”

The Rangers were credited with 13 shots. The Flames were credited with 13 blocked shots, with nine different players credited with blocks. Netminder Dan Vladar faced the fewest shots in a 60 minute outing he’s seen since joining the Flames.

“It was probably my easiest game as a Flame,” said Vladar. “The blocks that you see from Nacho and Weegs and Frosty towards the end is just that team right there. Let’s play hockey and, you know, it gives us, me and Wolfie, gives us goosebumps that you guys are willing to do those things for us. So, yeah, really good night for us and [so] proud of this group.”

Against Toronto on Monday, the Flames took three second period penalties that led to three power play goals. Against the Rangers, the Flames were far more disciplined, and their power play scored while their penalty kill killed off the lone Rangers advantage.

“We weren’t chasing it tonight,” said Huska. “And if you’re chasing games, that’s typically when you get yourself in situations where you’re going to take poor penalties or a lazy penalty. I don’t think we were chasing it tonight. So when we did have to kill one, I still thought we killed it on our toes. And as you mentioned, our power play got us a big goal.”

The Flames are in the middle of a really competitive playoff battle, trying to fend off Vancouver, St. Louis and Utah to capture the final Western Conference playoff spot. They’ve been fighting it a little bit of late, with three incomplete games on their recent homestand and their uneven game in Toronto. While they still have a lot of work to do – and 16 games left to do it in – Tuesday’s game against the Rangers was a return to form.

“I think just everybody doing whatever it took tonight to win,” said forward Nazem Kadri. “Blocking shots, you know, scored timely goals especially with how the game started. You know, it would have been easy to fold but we showed some great character and came back and played one of our best games of the year I think.”

The Flames return to action on Thursday night when they face the New Jersey Devils.

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