1) While Sam Bennett still remains pointless 12 games into the season, I think there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel.
He has looked more comfortable and confident of late and his game has gone up a level -- low bar, I know -- since being shifted to Mark Jankowski's wing.
In the first eight games of the season, Bennett registered just four shots on goal and six scoring chances at 5v5.
In four games since being moved to the wing, Bennett has tallied eight shots on goal and five scoring chances at 5v5.
He's finally starting to generate some good looks and, if that continues, it's only a matter of time before he is rewarded for his efforts.
2) The Flames have placed Freddie Hamilton on waivers for the purpose of assignment to AHL Stockton.
It's hardly a surprise Hamilton is the odd man out -- he's dressed only twice and somebody had to go with Jaromir Jagr's return imminent -- but I still think the team would be better off ridding themselves of Tanner Glass.
In 55 minutes of 5v5 ice, the Flames have been out-chanced 35-18 (32.69 scoring chance for%) with Glass out there and I refuse to believe a couple hits here and there make up for it.
Hamilton isn't anything special, but he's a decent rotational forward who garners better on-ice results than Glass.
3) If it feels like the Flames have tightened up defensively over the last week or two, it's because they have.
In the first eight games of the season, the Flames bled shot attempts at an alarming rate. They averaged more than 65 shot attempts against/60 at 5v5 six times and were a sub 45% possession team, which is awful, four times.
Since then, 52.4 shot attempts/60 is the most they've allowed in a game and they were a 52% possession team or better in all four games.
There was clearly an adjustment period, but the team-defense is finally starting to play as well as expected.