On Saturday night, the Calgary Flames did something they had not yet done in the month of November.

They scored a power play goal.

Matt Coronato’s goal, scored at six-on-four with a Winnipeg player in the penalty box and Dustin Wolf on the bench for the extra attacker, tied the game at 3-3 and allowed the Flames to earn a point against a strong Jets team. It was their first power play goal since Oct. 30. (The Flames ended up losing the game in a shootout.)

Through 20 games, the Flames have scored eight power play goals. Their 11.9% conversion rate on their power play opportunities sits dead-last in the NHL. If they had a league average power play, they would score just under 14 goals – six more than they currently have.

Their penalty kill has had challenges of its own, though not to the extent of the power play. Through 20 games, the Flames have allowed 15 power play goals, and they’re killing opposition advantages at the 23rd-based rate in the NHL. Based on the number of power plays they’ve faced, they’ve allowed about 1.5 more power play goals than a league average penalty kill.

Including shorthanded goals in both directions, the Flames’ special teams goal differential is minus-8, third worst in the NHL. Simply put, the Flames’ special teams units have not been a net positive for the club thus far this season: their power play has out-scored their opponents just twice this season.

With the Flames heading on a two game road trip, and playing just one of their next eight games at the Saddledome, they’ll need a turnaround from their special teams units to create and maintain momentum.

“Our five-on-five game is coming along,” said Flames head coach Ryan Huska after Sunday’s practice at the Saddledome. “That is one thing that you can see it from the eye test. We’re not giving up nearly the chances that we were before. I think we’re doing a much better job of denying shot attempts right now. The areas that we have to get better at for this road trip would be both sides of special teams. Of course, we scored a great power play goal [Saturday] night, one that we really needed, one that allowed us to get the point [Saturday] night. But we have to make sure we build off of that, and our penalty kill has to raise its level as well.”

Huska discussed the progress the penalty killing group is making with the new approach on that side of special teams this season.

“You know, it’s one step forward, two steps back some nights,” said Huska. “Up until recently, I felt like it was two steps forward, one step back, which to me is going in the right direction. You have to have everybody on the same wavelength when you’re killing penalties. You want to be more aggressive, and it’s a matter of reading off the people that you’re on the ice with, and that’s something we can do a better job with.”

Huska thought the power play was dangerous overall against Winnipeg.

“Yeah, you know, the beginning of the year for the first 12 to 14 games, I thought our power play was dangerous and it had some chances, some quality chances that we weren’t finishing on,” said Huska. “Then it went very dry where I didn’t like the way it was performing at all. Not a lot was happening. As a matter of fact, we were giving up more opportunities to the opponent than we were generating for ourselves. Last night, I thought their attitude, swagger was different when they went over the boards. They were two power play units that gave me the feeling that they’re going out there to get the job done, and that’s what we need. So if it’s not scoring, it needs to generate momentum for you, and last night I think they did a really good job in both places.”

The Flames begin the second quarter of their 2025-26 schedule on Tuesday night in Chicago.

This article is a presentation of Platinum Mitsubishi, family owned and operated by lifelong Calgarians. Home of the industry-leading 10-year, 160,000-kilometre powertrain warranty. Check out their showroom at 2720 Barlow Trail NE or online at www.mitsu.ca.