While on a six-game losing streak, the Calgary Flames are trying to stay positive as they head into tonight’s contest vs. the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Calgary Flames are having a weird 2018 so far. They were on a seven-game win streak, then they lost the next four in OT/SO, which still gave them an 11-game point streak. Then, after going 53-0-2 when leading after two periods since the start of last season, they lost two games in a row, both in regulation, when leading after two periods.
They’re currently on a six-game losing streak. If the Flames won seven in a row then went on to lose seven in a row… I don’t even know. They’ll have a chance to not let that happen tonight vs. the Chicago Blackhawks. This will be the end of their homestand as they’ll then head to Chicago to start a six-game road trip. The good news for Flames fans is that the Flames are one of the best road teams this season, going 13-5-5 on the road.
Among all this, the team is still trying to stay positive. Which may be easier said than done.
Via Calgary Sun:
"“I don’t even think we’re in a funk really,” protested Flames defenceman Dougie Hamilton. “The last two games, we could have or should have won. Even before that, it was all overtime games and shootouts, so they were all close. And before that, we won seven in a row.“It’s not like we’re playing bad. We’re not getting dominated. It’s just the way hockey goes.”“We’re playing good hockey, I think,” said Flames defenceman Michael Stone, dinged with a career-worst minus-5 rating in Thursday’s loss to the Bolts. “We’ve had two games where things didn’t go our way, and you can’t dwell on that stuff. When you’re doing enough good things to win hockey games, you’re just not winning … you just have to keep pushing.“Right now, I think everybody realizes that we are doing good things. (Thursday) night, for example, I didn’t feel like that result for the team or me personally was reflective of the way we played. But that’s something you just have to let go and move on.”"
A problem with the Flames in their losing streak is their inability to maintain a lead. Like I mentioned, their last two losses, they were leading after two periods. In five of the six losses, they scored the first goal. I don’t know if the team starts feeling confident after scoring or feels confident enough to let this one go to OT, but they need to start battling in the third period. They haven’t quite been doing that.
Related Story: What is behind Calgary's recent third period collapses?
The good news is that the Calgary Flames actually scored a powerplay goal on Thursday evening vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning. I thought PPG’s were a myth. And their PP looked much better as a whole. In practice yesterday, they also (finally) tried having Dougie Hamilton on the first PP unit. Something the fans have been yelling to have for two months.
Flames Tweet of the day
Pretty revolutionary to finally put your best offensive defenseman on the first powerplay unit after 51 games.
— Matchsticks & Gasoline (@MatchsticksCGY) February 2, 2018
Hockey Tweet of the day
On #GroundhogDay, if an Edmonton hockey reporter sees his/her own shadow, and the shadow doesn't respond to a request for an interview, we're due for 2 more years of 1st overall Oilers picks.
— Bonk's Mullet (@BonksMullet) February 2, 2018
Some links surrounding the Flames
Calgary Flames and Canadian Blind Hockey players take the ice with ‘Hockey Is For Everyone’ campaign (CBC News).
Flames focus on positives as losses pile up (Calgary Sun).
GameDay: Blackhawks at Flames (National Post).
Some links surrounding hockey and the NHL
Olympic journey begins for Canadian men’s hockey team — in Latvia (CBC Sports).
Goaltender interference rule remains a mystery to NHL players (CBC Sports).
Forget Vegas flu — NHL teams sick of playing here (Winnipeg Free Press).
Next: Flames reportedly interested in Zack Smith
That’s all in today’s Flames Daily! Stay warm folks, there’s lots of snowfall in Calgary with freezing temperatures. Let’s hope that psychs out the Blackhawks.