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The Flames have scored a lot of odd goals so far this season
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Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Ryan Pike
Oct 14, 2025, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 13, 2025, 22:58 EDT
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There’s an old saying in hockey: “they don’t put photos in the box score.”
For the younger among us, that’s a reference to the old summaries of each game printed in the newspaper the day after games. In other words: it does not matter if a goal is ugly or pretty, a goal is a goal and that’s all that matters.
Through three games, the Flames have scored six goals – four at even strength and two on the power play. And if we may say so, most of their goals have been quite odd.
Let’s explain what we mean by that, shall we?

Matvei Gridin scores off Noah Philp’s skate

Gridin’s first NHL goal came off an attempted cross-slot pass to Matt Coronato. It went off Philp’s skate and into the Edmonton net.

Connor Zary’s mid-air whack

A puck was knocked into the air near the net on a power play and Zary whacked it out of mid-air and into the Edmonton net.

Stuart Skinner gives Blake Coleman a gift

…we’re still not sure what Skinner was doing here, guys. But Coleman poked the puck into the net.

Morgan Frost chucks a puck on net

With some traffic (Joel Farabee) in front, Frost chucked the puck towards the net and it went through Farabee’s legs and into Vancouver’s net.

Matt Coronato bonks a puck in off a defender

Coronato fired a shot from a sharp angle and it hit a Blues defender at the far post and went into the net.
The lone “traditional” goal that could be described as a really nice goal was Coronato’s second goal off the rush against St. Louis, scored off a really nice wrist shot. But the common thread of all of these efforts has been a willingness to go to the net – either with pucks or bodies, and often both – and we’ve seen good things happen when they do that.
While they probably should’ve scored more against St. Louis based on their shot volume and quality – Natural Stat Trick estimated they generated 3.48 expected goals across all situations – but after Monday’s practice, Coronato conceded Blues netminder Joel Hofer did a good job and the Flames just need to stick to their game-plan to generate offence.
“I think we have to stick to that plan of getting pucks and bodies there,” said Coronato. “I thought we did a good job. I think if we continue to play like that and work and play the game the right way, the bounces will come. But we need to make sure that that’s an area of focus, is making sure we’re putting those pucks in… It’s important. You need to do it to win.”
The Flames are back in action on Tuesday night when they host Vegas.
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