Calgary Flames Up-And-Down Form Ruining Their Season
The Calgary Flames have looked to be on fire when playing well, but just as equally when they lose, they really do lose.
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This season, unlike the surprising performances of last season, has been a truer tale of where the team is right now. On their day, they can compete with anyone. Their emphatic 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks is proof of that, likewise the 4-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes.
But what has really hurt the Calgary Flames this season is the fact that in the middle of those two emphatic four-goal nights, they went down 2-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Calgary Flames form is a roller-coaster this year, there’s no other way to describe it. Look back at the lengthy winning streak at home or the string of losses headed into All-Star Weekend. Up and down and just generally all over the place.
If Johnny Gaudreau is firing, chances are the team will win, but you can’t place the pressure and expectation purely on that young man’s shoulders. Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett have also been key in stepping up their games; it has in fact been the veteran support that has slumped, this coupled with several untimely injuries.
It has been a frustrating year, not least because there is no clear direction from Calgary Flames head coach, Bob Hartley. By now, as much as it hurts, he should’ve given up on even the wildcard spots and be promoting talent from the AHL side for evaluation.
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The likes of AHL Player of the Month for January, Derek Grant and former KHL defenseman, Jakub Nakladal are among a group that are ripe and ready for a run in the Calgary FLames line-up. They just need to be given the right opportunity.
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There seems to be no doubt that this patchwork of patchy results will continue to haunt the season for the Calgary Flames; every couple of wins attached to a brutal loss, but hopefully the younger guys in the line-up are learning some lessons in resilience as a result.
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Next year those frustrating losses can hopefully prove the fuel they need to push the Calgary Flames towards success.
What have you thought of this season? Is it as miserable as it reads or are the Calgary Flames purely victim of this up-and-down form? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.