Calgary Flames Need Power Play Improvement

After another tough loss to a divisional foe, the Calgary Flames find themselves 26th overall in the league.

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Thanks to the Pacific Division being as weak as the Canadian dollar, the Calgary Flames are still in the play-off hunt, just five points back of a spot to the big dance.

This year, the Calgary Flames have fought back from horrid goaltending thanks to Karri Ramo channelling his inner Kiprusoff since being recalled from the AHL.

Their defence has also improved because of Hamilton’s return to form and Brodano looking stronger than ever. Up front, the super-saiyan efforts by Gaudreau and a hot rookie in Sam Bennett make goal-scoring a non-issue right now for a surging Calgary Flames side.

One problem still plagues the Calgary Flames however, and it has all year; their power-play is just plain bad. You can argue that the power-play has improved over the last little bit including their zone entries and offensive possession, but the time for moral victories is over. Plain and simple the Calgary Flames power-play needs more consistent results if they are going to make the playoffs this year.

Just last game the Calgary Flames went 0-4 on power-plays, including a 5 on 3 and a 4 on 3 in overtime. If the Calgary Flames had buried on just one of those chances they probably would have got the two points. Look at the Dallas Stars, a good team made great by having a lethal power-play.

Thanks to a tenacious fore-check and speed to burn, the Calgary Flames are able to draw a lot of penalties. Now the question is scoring on some of them to turn the one goal leads to two and putting games away. With all the firepower on the Calgary Flames roster (pun intended) it is a wonder that they are not better on the man-advantage, but identifiable problems still remain.

The biggest issue with the Calgary Flames power-play is player deployment. First of all, the defence-man who receives more ice time than anyone else is Dennis Wideman. Not Dougie Hamilton who led the Boston Bruins in power-play points and has arguably the best shot on the team, not Norris Trophy finalist Giordano, but Wideman who would have trouble hitting the water falling out of a boat.

Jan 16, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames forward Sam Bennett (93) tries to screen Edmonton Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot (33) during the first period at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports /

Sam Bennett also has seen a lot of bench on the man-advantage, getting second team reps usually or inexplicably none at all. Both of these guys can help define a power-play and can use their high skill-sets to make plays out of nothing.

But if things still don’t click and the pucks start bouncing, then simplifying the game and just putting pucks on the net with lots of big bodies in front will be effective enough for a struggling team.

If the Calgary Flames start giving more ice time to some of their most skilled players, and cut down the time given to unproductive players on their special teams (Wideman, Granlund); expect more results.

Injecting a sense of urgency and keeping things as simple as possible would also improve the goal totals on the power-play, leading to more wins in a tight division.

The good news for the Calgary Flames is that they’re only five points back of a playoff spot, and there is still time to turn things around.

However the teams in play-off spots ahead of the Calgary Flames show no signs of slowing down, and if the Calgary Flames power-play doesn’t improve expect to see lots of golfing in Alberta during the month of April.

Next: Flames Youth Can't Win Oilers Shootout

Do you agree with these thoughts on the Calgary Flames powerplay? Are the wrong players being given the oppurtunities? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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