The Calgary Flames are scorching hot.
After a dreadful start to the season,where the Flames won just eight of their first 24 games, they have seemingly righted the ship winning four in a row and eight straight on home ice.
Some thoughts on their 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres:
1) I know I'm preaching to the choir here but Johnny Gaudreau is absolutely ridiculous. The pass he made to Sean Monahan on his 2nd of the night was out of this world good and his give-and-go with Monahan on the winner wasn't half bad, either.
Monahan goal pic.twitter.com/jhsgp1A73l
— Stephanie (@myregularface) December 11, 2015On a different note I'm not sure there's a defender in the league Gaudreau wouldn't lose when he gains the line with the puck, stops, and starts in a completely different direction. That move is deadly.
2) Dougie Hamilton had five points in his first 24 games as a Flame. He as four points in his last four (one in each game) including a beautiful no look pass to Markus Granlund for a tap in.
Hamilton is getting a lot of credit for his play right now but his play has been consistent for a little while now. He was generating shots and chances at a high rate so it was only a matter of time before he started to reap the benefits.
The same can be said about Mark Giordano, who has six points in his last six games after tallying just six in his first 22.
3) Markus Granlund continues to look the part of a legitimate NHLer. He's making plays at both ends of the ice and is creating a lot of offense for a guy who can't get a sniff on the power play.
Over the last three games Granlund has eight shots, 10 scoring chances and a pair of goals. I'm thinking he should stick around.
4) Sam Bennett took a pair of penalties and they both proved costly but for the most part I thought he played a pretty good game. He made a couple really impressive plays in tight spaces and finished with a game-high three high-danger scoring chances at 5 vs 5.
5) Things were a little scary late when the Flames started trading chances and taking penalties but Jonas Hiller was perfect in the first 40 minutes and stopped 21-22 (.954SV%) at even-strength. I'd like to see him get the next start.
Recent posts: Flames make it three in a row with win over Sharks