Gang, it’s probably an understatement to say that this season has not gone as hoped for the Calgary Flames.

But while a lot hasn’t gone right for the Flames over the past 54 games, one thing that’s been a reliable part of their repertoire in 2025-26 has been their penalty kill.

On Saturday afternoon, as the team hosted the San Jose Sharks, the Flames’ shorthanded units were a difference-maker once again. In a game where the two clubs exchanged even strength and power play goals over the first two periods, Joel Farabee’s shorthanded goal in the third period proved the difference-maker in a 3-2 Flames victory.

The win was the Flames’ first since Rasmus Andersson’s trade to Vegas, and snapped a five game losing streak.

Farabee’s goal came 6:53 into the third period, and saw the forward capitalize on an end-boards rebound off a shot from Flames captain Mikael Backlund that missed the net.

“Joel scores all of his goals right around the net front for the most part,” said head coach Ryan Huska post-game. “So that’s where he goes. And I think that’s maybe four shorthanded goals now for him this year. Just him and our penalty killing unit has done a really good job over the last of a while of not only killing penalties, but finding a way to generate some offence. And I think that, at times, puts a power play a little bit on their heels a little. Because they know that, hey, if we make a mistake, these guys are going to come on offence. So they’ve done a really good job.”

Farabee’s shorthanded goal was, as Huska alluded to, his fourth of the season. He’s tied with Los Angeles’ Joel Armia and Buffalo’s Ryan McLeod for the league lead. Backlund’s assist on the goal gave him five shorthanded points, tied for the team lead. The Flames, as a group, have scored a league-leading eight shorthanded goals, and are 6-2-0 this season when scoring shorthanded.

Heck, two of their shorthanded goals – a Jan. 15 marker from Backlund against Chicago and Farabee’s snipe on Saturday against San Jose – were also game-winners.

Huska offered some explanations as to why the Flames have been so successful at scoring shorthanded.

“Hockey sense, instincts,” said Huska. “Guys understand when they can maybe pick off a pass. Block shots, knowing when to go the other way. I remember a few years ago, I think this team scored 17 shorthanded goals, and you really never expect it with the personnel, the offensive side or their offensive ability. But the instincts that they had were really good, and I see a lot of the same in this group.”

(The Flames scored 18 shorthanded goals in 2018-19, but it’s pretty wild how specific Huska’s memory was.)

The Flames have had their challenges this season. Their power play hasn’t scored a whole lot. They haven’t generated enough offensively at five-on-five. Their even strength defensive game has had miscues at bad times. Long story short: a lot of factors have conspired to put them near the bottom of the standings this season.

But their penalty kill? That’s something they’ve been able to rely on. After Saturday’s game, it’s seventh in the NHL in terms of penalty-killing efficiency. When you factor in the shorthanded goals they score into the equation, it’s the best penalty kill in the league.

On Saturday, it was the difference against the Sharks.