Flames leaning on locker room leadership in pivotal moments

Follow| Archive

The Calgary Flames continued to be frustrated and stymied through the first 40 minutes in Game 5 of their series versus the Dallas Stars.

The Stars have had sound defensive structure throughout the series, and the Flames had beaten goalie Jake Oettinger just six times. Flames forwards, typically used to controlling the offensive zone for minutes at a time, were getting boxed out by Stars blueliners and unable to get to the slot. 

Trailing 1-0 at home in a pivotal game, Calgary’s leaders spoke up during the second intermission.

“A lot of guys stepped up and talked in the room,” Mikael Backlund, who scored the tying goal, said. “The message was clear. We put the period behind us and go out and play our game, play the way we can, believe, just get back to our game and check for chances. That’s when we’re at our best and that’s what we did in the third.”

The Flames took the words to heart and gradually took the game over in the third period. Backlund’s line with Andrew Mangiapane and Blake Coleman was particularly effective at controlling play, scoring both the tying and winning goals and combining for five points. Backlund and Mangiapane were named the game’s first and second stars. 

The Flames have tinkered with the depth of their roster over the past nine months, prioritizing grit and depth over flash. They also emphasized leadership qualities and Stanley Cup pedigree, bringing in Coleman, Trevor Lewis, Tyler Toffoli, and Brad Richardson.

That culture reinvention, which started with the 2020 signings of Jacob Markstrom and Chris Tanev, is a big reason why the Flames surprised so many in the hockey world in winning the Pacific Division this season. It was also on full display as the Flames came back in