The Calgary Flames have won five straight games.
Wait, what?
Have the Flames, who just last month set a franchise record with seven straight home losses, really just wrap-up a perfect five-game home stretch for the first time since the ’90s? Did Calgary, a team that before this streak averaged 1.23 goals per game since Christmas, really explode for 21 goals in five contests? And did the team that sits 13th in the 14-team Western Conference and 27th in the league in fact string together their unlikely streak playing against teams such as the mighty San Jose Sharks and defending champion Chicago Blackhawks?
Yes.
But there have been many interesting twists in this young team’s season, both positive and negative, which must be kept in perspective and weighted reasonably, and this latest streak is no different. Wins are great, but the team is getting nowhere near the post-season soon and the focus in Calgary is on the future, so how the wins come to be is more important than their existence. And that’s just fine, because these Flames have been winning in fine fashion.
One of the most impressive aspects of this win streak is that it was achieved by a team that everyone wrote-off before the season even began. No one expected much from the Flames this year, and in January they lived up to those expectations. But after a truly terrible start to 2014, they answered Bob Hartley’s call to action when he started his fourth line against the Canucks; it was a call to fight back, and that’s what they’ve done. It may have taken quite some time, but the Flames were determined to stop the bleeding, and they did. It’s encouraging when players respond to their coach, and it’s a synergy that can go a long way in shortening the return to the playoffs.
They also did their fans the courtesy of following a disastrous stay at the Saddledome with their best in a long time, and the support and patience of a hockey market, or lack thereof, can have a big influence on an organization’s fortunes, especially in a high-pressure Canadian market.
Captain Mark Giordano has continued to lead by example, extending his exceptional point streak to nine games, which should go a long way in silencing the sarcastic and dismissive remarks that abounded on the day he was given the captaincy (According to Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun, a nine-game point streak from a Flames d-man also hasn’t happened since the ’90s, when Gary Suter had a 13-game run in early 1993). Giordano may not be the icon that his predecessor was, but he’s the right man to lead the Flames.
Matt Stajan also deserves an honourable mention. I was, and still am, skeptical about his recent four-year contract extension, but he’s played well since signing it. He has four points during this win-streak, and also scored against Vancouver two games before it started.
Sean Monahan has continued his terrific rookie season with four points over those five wins, and scored yet another decisive shootout tally against the Blackhawks. Monahan’s 15th goal of the season Thursday against the Sharks launched him into sole possession of the team lead in that department, a big change of pace for a team that spent the last decade riding the production of one of the game’s most consistent goal-scorers.
Meanwhile, Mikael Backlund has been absolutely stellar with four goals and eight points in the last four games. His 27 points in 54 games this season already outstrips his previous career best of 25 points in 73 games, which he reached during the 2010-2011 season. His 13 goals is also a new career high, and his three shorthanded goals place him in a five-player tie for second-most in the league, which makes one wonder if Backlund is finally developing into the player Flames fans long hoped he would be.
As of right now, all of these players look to be part of Calgary’s plans for the future, and the fact that they have been the catalysts for this bounce-back run is a great sign. They’ve been able to lead this team back to the win column, and leadership and clutch play is exactly what this organization needs from its core players as the rebuild moves forward.
But even with all that said, the true value of these wins has yet to be determined.
The Flames have put together a short but impressive run and it’s certainly commendable. But like everything else this season, this streak should be taken as learning experience. These players endured a month of losses in terrible fashion, and they need to remember what that feels like. Remember it, and use that memory as motivation. A season is full of highs and lows, and a team learns the appropriate response to each one by playing through it. Calgary rode out the losses and rebounded with a season-high winning streak. They’ve dealt with failure, now they must deal with success. I’m not expecting them to turn the season around, but this win streak won’t even be a moral victory if the Flames follow it with another extended period of flat-lining.
Like I said, wins are great, and the way these Flames are winning is better. But right now, for this team, building on these wins and learning from them is more important than the two points.
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