Key statistical dominance reflects Flames recent success
By Gary Pearson
There is an aura of confidence and cautionary bravado in the Stampede City as the Calgary Flames swatted aside yet another opponent with ease.
Another dominant home display last night saw the Flames suffocate the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets for the second time in less than a month. In those two encounters, Calgary outscored the Blue Jackets 12-2.
Flames fans will never tire of reading the absurdly one-sided numbers favouring their hockey club recently. Darryl Sutter’s side are brimming with confidence after winning their seventh successive game. They’ve also won seven on the bounce at the Saddledome, turning their aging, weathered arena into an impenetrable fortress.
The Flames are the hottest team in the league since Jan. 18, taking 20 of a possible 24 points with a 10-2-0 record. The Avalanche and Pens are hot on Calgary’s heels, amassing just one point less in the timeframe.
Key stats reflecting Flames recent dominance
Calgary also leads the league in other key statistical categories over the entire season thus far, proving they are a club to be reckoned with and aren’t but a mere aberration.
The Flames lead the league in net shots with a +6.8 total and are second in shots per game, with 36. That’s just 0.6 shots per game behind league leaders Florida. The Flames fired another 41 shots on goal last night, the 14th time they’ve accomplished the 40+ feat this season.
Calgary is also first in winning games by three or more goals, now with 18. They’ve leapfrogged Florida with their last two convincing, lopsided wins over the Blue Jackets and Islanders and are adding to that unexpected total at a staggering rate.
The Flames have also conceded the second fewest goals in the NHL five-on-five (74). Only the Vancouver Canucks have allowed fewer at full strength (76). Only the Carolina Hurricanes (2.37) have a better goals against average than the Flames (2.39).
It’s not just the seven-game winning streak, but the way in which the Flames are consistently dominating that has Calgary fans riding an emotional high, believing this may just be their year.
But we’ve been here before, so Flames fans know the importance of keeping their emotions in check, as things can change as quickly as the time it took Johnny Gaudreau to set up Tyler Toffoli for his first Calgary goal.