When the Calgary Flames players woke up Sunday morning, just days before Christmas and an extended break from NHL action, they did just that. in the playground.
The spot may be a few game days short of other teams’ schedules before the break, but the Flames made their point. another win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Saddledome on Saturday afternoon.
The matinee featured plenty of goals – on both sides. The Flames closed within six for the first time from the first week of the NHL season. But despite taking a 5-1 lead into the third period, the Flames needed an empty netter by captain Mikael Backlund to close things out. Connor Bedard and company they were not willing to give up.
It was Connor Zary and company that succeeded, because some timely ones from Dustin Wolf and two-point games by Zary and fellow junior Matt Coronato, as well as veterans Jonathan Huberdeau and Blake Coleman.
Things haven’t been going well for the Flames franchise this season, but as the year draws to a close, these players have shown that capable of almost anything. Active chemistry is a good sign for the long-term future of the team in transition. Seeing Zary (who was named the game’s first all-star) and Coronato thrive during a game against a generational NHL player in Bedard should give Flames fans a sense of hope for years to come.
Zary produces points on the powerplay but also in five-on-five despite third line minutes. He really clicked with off-ice friend Jakob Pelletier, and their second-period goal and resulting celebration showed that connection. Pelletier is getting some offensive touches at the NHL level after spending most of the year in the AHL. The 23-year-old has four assists in his last seven games.
Coronato plays quietly on the Flames’ most important line alongside Backlund and Coleman, who take on the opposition’s top players all night long. It was Coronato’s second straight high-point night, and the 22-year-old now has three goals and eight points in his last eight games – including a four-point streak.
With Coronato, Zary and Pelletier producing up front and Wolf providing a strong presence in goal, this season’s franchise development side for the Flames shows a lot of promise.
Veterans are having fun, too. Coleman is on a five-game hitting streak, with three goals and six points in that span. Backlund has two goals and four points in his last four (going without one point in them). And the duo of Nazem Kadri and Huberdeau it has become stronger. Huberdeau’s two points on Saturday gave him six goals and 13 points in his last 10 games. The 31-year-old is on pace for 30 goals and 60 points this season. Maybe not what you want from a player making more than $10 million a year, but it will be his best season since joining the Calgary Flames from the Florida Panthers. in the blockbuster Matthew Tkachuk trade two summers ago.
Kadri is on the same path. It’s a big drop from last season statistically, but he’s been on fire in the second quarter this year, with five goals in his last six games – including a pair that deserved a game-high – and eight points and 14 points in the final. 17 games.
All of this has helped the Flames keep chasing the playoffs, which is all you can ask for this season. If all three top lines can continue to develop this offensive chemistry, it should help hold on to that deadline prospect in the new year and beyond.
Related: 3 Takeaways From Flames Close 6-4 Win Over Blackhawks
