"The Red Mile might just be getting warmed up."
We’re back with a week recap for the Calgary Flames and oh boy, what a rollercoaster it’s been. This week, the Flames laced up for three games with one more on deck against the Islanders. Remarkably, the playoff dream is still flickering with hope. The team sits just two points back of a Wild Card spot with two games in hand. Against all preseason odds, Calgary is still in the fight, and a big reason why is the sensational play of rookie netminder Dustin Wolf, who continues to impress in his first NHL season.
The week got off to a rough start though. Monday night hockey saw the Flames face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and… let’s just say it was one to forget. In a game that turned into a full-on collapse, Calgary fell hard, 6-2 and saw Wolf pulled for the first time in his pro career after surrendering four goals in a brutal second period. The team looked flat, disorganized, and clearly overwhelmed by Toronto’s firepower.
But there was no time to dwell. One day later the Flames were back at it against the New York Rangers. This was a golden opportunity to hit the reset button, and reset they did. Calgary bounced back in a big way, grinding out a gritty 2-1 win while allowing just 13 shots all night. It was a suffocating defensive effort, and if not for the jaw-dropping performance of Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin, the score could’ve easily been much higher.
Then came last night’s showdown with the Devils, and things looked bleak once again. The Flames were outplayed and trailing 3-1 heading into the third. The playoff hopes looked to be flickering out once more. But in truly chaotic Flames fashion, the third period turned into a goal-fest. A four-goal explosion, capped off by a late go-ahead marker from Jonathan Huberdeau, saw the Flames complete an improbable comeback and skate away with a thrilling 5–3 win. From despair to euphoria in just 20 minutes.
So here we are on March 21st. The Flames are sitting two points out of a Wild Card spot, trailing both the St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks, but with games in hand. Catching the Blues won’t be easy, they’re 7-2-1 in their last 10 and heating up at the right time but Calgary isn’t going quietly. The Red Mile might just be getting warmed up.