Calgary Flames Special Teams: Nothing Short Of Excellent Lately

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The Calgary Flames still rank close to the bottom for their special teams. However, those numbers definitely don’t reflect how it’s been the last couple weeks.

The Calgary Flames are now on a four-game win streak and five-game point streak. We can owe some of this to their special teams. If their special teams have been like they were before these last couple of weeks, they without a doubt wouldn’t have walked away with nine points in their last five games. And not 13 points in their last eight games.

So let’s look at their penalty kill and their power play.

Penalty Killing

From the start of the season until November 21st, the Calgary Flames were second last on the penalty kill with 72.7%. They were also tied for first for the most amount of times being short-handed with 77 times. And they allowed the most amount of power-play goals in that time frame with 21 PPG on 71 times being short-handed.

Now from November 22nd to December 7th, their penalty kill is 93.1%. That’s third in the league in that time frame. They still haven’t really been able to keep their discipline in check, being short-handed 29 times, one less than the highest, 30. However, they’ve only allowed two power play goals against on those 29 times being short handed. They’ve also gotten three short-handed goals in that time frame. Which means they’ve gotten more SHG than PPG against in that time frame. Cool.

Power Play

Like the PK, from the start of the season until November 21st, the Calgary Flames had the worst Power Play in the league with 8.4%. They were fifth in the league for the amount of PP opportunities with 71 times, but only had six PP goals. Which was tied for the second lowest amount in the league.

Now from November 22nd to December 7th, again like the PK, their PP is looking much better. Their power play is first with 33.3%. Can you believe they’re first? Because I’m sitting in class right now and I didn’t even realize or know they’re first in that time frame and I’m just kind of sitting here stunned.

Given, they haven’t had that many power play opportunities, but they have six PPG. That’s on 18 PP opportunities. That’s the same amount of PPG they had before, but on about a quarter of the opportunities.

In that time frame from the start of the season to November 21st, their record was 8-12-1. That earned them just 17 points in 21 games. From November 22nd to now, their record is 6-1-1 earning them 13 points in just eight games.

Is this a direct correlation to their special teams?

Well, let’s look at some of their games since November 22nd and see how their special teams affected the game:

Dec 6, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) scores a goal against Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (32) during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

December 6th – CGY @ DAL

This was a fun game. I remember it like it was yesterday (because it was). The second period was extremely intense and the Calgary Flames had multiple breakaway chances. But they couldn’t beat Kari Lehtonen, the goaltender for the Dallas Stars. Then finally, after like a million chances, Johnny Gaudreau and Alex Chiasson would get yet another breakaway and Gaudreau was finally able to beat the Lehtonen machine. I mean, just look at how nice this goal was:

Paging Dallas defense, paging Dallas defense, Paging Dallas defense…

An unattended child and his friend are breaking in without an adult pic.twitter.com/Lklbn33HTB
— FlamesNation (@FlamesNation) December 7, 2016

Going into third period in this game, it was tied at one a piece. However, the Flames got a power play goal about midway through the third period and they would now be up by a goal. The final score ended up being 2-1. So let’s look at special teams.

The Stars had two power play chances, but couldn’t take advantage of either. They did get close, I will say that, but thank goodness for Chad Johnson, who saved 29 shots this game. The Flames also only had two power play chances, but they managed to find the back of the net in one of them, and that one came in the third period. Imagine if they didn’t get that one PPG? Going 0/2 on the PP isn’t horrible, and it’s definitely something the Flames have done quite a few times this season.

This game could have gone to OT and who knows if they would have walked away with that extra point. Right? Special teams can truly make or break the outcome in a game, especially if it’s a one-goal game.

Dec 2, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund (11) tries to score on Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk (40) during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. The Flames won 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports /

December 2nd – CGY vs MIN

The Calgary Flames got revenge on the Minnesota Wild on December 2nd for hurting the team’s child (Johnny Gaudreau). Alright, that sounds a little intense. But the Flames managed to win 3-2 in a shootout and won their two games against the Wild so far this season. Clearly, because it was a shootout, this was barely even a one-goal game.

There were three goals in the first period and one in the third. After the first twenty, the Flames ended up being up 2-1 and would be that way until third period when the Wild tied it up.

How did special teams affect this game?

Well, the Flames second goal was a PPG. If they didn’t get that goal and the Wild still got that goal in the third, they may have not gone to extra time and the Flames may have not even gotten a single point in this game. The Flames did only go 1/5 on the PP, however that still is 20%. Way better than what their record was before that, that’s for sure.

They also killed off all three PP opportunities for the Wild. The Wild’s special team stats aren’t too bad either, they range sort of in the middle for both. On the PP, they’re 17.1% and on the PK, they’re 83.3%. So good on the Flames for beating them in both areas. If the Flames PP and PK was just a little bit worse, this game could have even finished 3-1 for the Wild.

Nov 25, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Calgary Flames defenseman Brett Kulak (61) and defenseman Deryk Engelland (29) watch a fight between right wing Garnet Hathaway (64) and Boston Bruins right wing Jimmy Hayes (11) during the third period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

November 25th – CGY @ BOS

The Calgary Flames beat the Boston Bruins by a score of 2-1 on November 25th. The Flames did only have one power-play opportunity all game, however they went 0/1 on the PP. The Bruins do fairly well on the PK, they’re 86.4% right now, which is third in the league. The Bruins, however, had four PP opportunities. And good thing they don’t do well on those either, like the Flames, because the Flames managed to kill all of them off.

The Bruins also had 36 SOG that night, so again, thank goodness for the Flames savior that is Chad Johnson.

The Flames got up 2-1 in the third period, however the Bruins did have a PP after that when they were down 2-1. They could have taken advantage and scored a PPG then when they really needed it and it could have gone to OT. The Flames could have won in OT, but they could also have a point less than they do right now.

This game had quite a bit of anger between the two teams. Looked a bit like a repeat of last year, except Gaudreau didn’t play from injury, so he couldn’t play against his BFF Brad Marchand (That’s sarcasm).

Since these two teams seem to get pretty heated, their second meeting later this season should be fun.

Nov 23, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Calgary Flames center Sam Bennett (93) passes the puck as Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones (3) defends during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports /

November 23rd – CGY @ CBJ

The Calgary Flames faced the Columbus Blue Jackets, who had only lost one game in regulation their last 11 games. They also hadn’t been shutout yet that season, and guess who shut them out? (If it wasn’t the Flames this would be a horrible Segway).

But yes, the Flames beat Columbus 2-0. The Blue Jackets have only lost five games in regulation this whole season, one coming against the Flames. The Blue Jackets were also leading, and continue to lead, on the PP. They’re 24.6% on the PP, however, even with their 34 SOG and four PP opportunities, they couldn’t beat The Chad (again, thank you to our lord and savior Chad Johnson). Their home PP is even better, with an incredible 33.3%. Thankfully for the Flames, their home PK wasn’t that great, with 79.4%. But the Flames still managed to get a PP goal, going 1/3 that night.

I think this was actually the game where their special teams started to improve. They kept climbing up the special teams ladder and they haven’t looked back since.

Next: Flames Extend Their Win Streak To Four Games

Well, we can’t say for sure what the Calgary Flames record would look if they hadn’t done as well with special teams as of late. But as of right now, the Flames are third in the pacific division. They’re also over 0.500 for the first time since January 7th, 2016. If they can keep this up and keep their special teams in check, their season just might last longer than April.

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