As the Calgary Flames trek through their gruelling six-game road trip, head coach Ryan Huska is acutely aware of what his team needs to do to triumph over their formidable opponents, including the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Flames’ performance needs to be significantly better than their narrow 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks, Huska explicitly stated in a recent press briefing.
This challenging journey for Calgary, currently holding onto the No. 2 wild-card spot, has them facing five playoff-bound teams. Surprisingly, however, the Pacific Division team has found unexpected scoring depth from players like defenseman Joel Hanley and fourth-liners Kevin Rooney and Martin Pospisil.
Hanley, a native of Keswick, Ontario, recently celebrated his first-ever game-winning goal in the NHL, contributing to the victory over the Sharks. This unexpected hero only has four career goals over 222 NHL games and had sat out for 24 of the Flames’ first 30 matches this season. Despite limited playtime, Huska commended Hanley’s resilience and dedication to the team, emphasizing that he had earned his recent success.
The Flames’ offensive prowess isn’t only from unexpected sources. Jonathan Huberdeau leads the team with 22 goals, and his 43 points are matched only by Nazem Kadri.
As the Flames navigate their gruelling road trip, the Lightning, who they face for the second time, are on a roll, boasting a season-high six-game winning streak. They seem to have found their groove, delivering their best hockey of the season.
The Lightning’s recent 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers showcased their defensive strength, limiting the impact of players like Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. Coach Jon Cooper points to this defensive prowess as a significant factor in their winning streak.
The previous encounter between the Flames and the Lightning on December 12 was a resounding 8-3 victory for Tampa Bay, with Jake Guentzel scoring a hat trick. As the Flames prepare to face the Lighting again, they’ll be hoping for a different outcome, leveraging their unexpected scoring depth and the leadership of players like Huberdeau and Kadri.