The Calgary Flames finished off their four-game homestand with a thrilling win against the Minnesota Wild. Dan Vladar made saves when he needed to (both in regulation, the overtime period, and the shootout) in his first game action in a while; Justin Kirkland used his signature shootout move to score the tying goal in the shootout, and Rasmus Andersson finished the game off with a fifth-round five-hole goal on Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson.

Securing eight of eight points on the homestand is a huge testament to this Flames team’s resilience and their ability to come out of close games on the right side of the scoreboard if they stick to their game plan. And while against Minnesota, they didn’t do that for the whole game, head coach Ryan Huska believed that will be a teaching moment moving forward.

“I liked a lot of our game,” Huska said, via Flames TV. “The part I didn’t like probably was the last seven or eight minutes, where I felt, for the first time this year, that we sat back a little bit and let them come at us. So it was a lesson for us. We can make sure we’re better in that situation next time. But other than that I liked our game.”

One key to this Flames team’s success over the last handful of games is the power play. Their season percentage is 18.3, which is the 18th-best in the league. However, their conversion rate is 24% over the last 10 games, and over the homestand, they converted 33% of their opportunities. New looks on both units and internal competition have fuelled the fire that has helped the Flames succeed on the man-advantage.

“We tried to put some different people on both units so we can create a little competition there,” Huska said. “So if somebody goes and scores, they’re going to go out and go again. A lot of those players want to be on the ice for the minute and a half to start a power play, so I think that competition’s been good. But I also think they’ve just done a much better job of moving the puck quickly, and they’re not over-complicating right now.”

Yegor Sharangovich specifically scored a power play goal against the Wild, but it was from a different look than his usual spot on the wing. Instead, his goal came off a nice shot from the bumper position, and that fluidity is providing the Flames power play with important unpredictability to opponents that are fueling the man-advantage success over the last 10 games.

When it comes to what the coaching staff wants the Flames power play to look like, the best way to describe it would be constantly changing. Players need to be comfortable with being in different positions around the ice, and, most importantly, they need to be ready to shoot. Sharangovich, in particular, has done a good job of this, especially as of late.

”I think the best power plays are all fluid,” Huska said. “People are all over the place at different times. So if [Sharangovich] sets himself up on the flank and he’s shooting a one-timer, if he moves himself into the bumper, or at times he’s going to be at the net as well, I like that he’s a threat to shoot. That’s what I’d like to see him continue to do; that he always wants the puck, and when he does get it, the last few goals he’s scored on the power play were on and off his stick, and that’s when I feel like he’s at his best.”

The Flames have a critical four-game road trip against challenging Eastern Conference opponents. They need to continue playing their brand of hockey to remain at the top of the Pacific Division.

Through the early part of this 2024-25 season, the Flames have proven that they don’t shy away from close games. Instead, they appear to thrive in them. However, this final slate of games in November is a chance to improve on their mediocre 3-3-3 away record. It’s also a chance for the young players on this Flames squad to gain experience in finding ways to win in hostile environments and maintaining consistency within a style of play from one group of games to the next.

There’s a culture being created within the Calgary organization, and the Flames faithful that tuned in for one or all of the games in the homestand witnessed it firsthand. Now, the upcoming road trip is as important as ever.