The good news of the week for the Calgary Flames came Monday when they snapped a four-game losing streak, finally scoring on the powerplay and beating the Avalanche 4-3 on the road.
But that’s all the good news they got. Remember last week, when I said the Flames’ troubles were bad but not bleak? Well, I stand by that statement. But it’s getting more and more difficult to do so.
The numbers are ugly. Heading into their Monday night clash with the Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary has lost three straight and seven of eight since the Christmas break, being outscored 26-6 in that span. Five of those losses have been shut-outs, and Saturday night’s 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins saw the Flames set a new franchise record for a home goal-scoring drought – nearly 10 straight periods.
The present focus in Calgary is the team’s scoring woes, and they’re certainly noteworthy. But in all seriousness, just how bad is the situation? Shortly before the break, the Flames were being touted for their ability to keep games close and consistently compete with better teams. Now it’s the opposite. What does it mean? Growing pains. Ups and downs are the nature of pro sports, particularly for a team in Calgary’s position.
This is not a team that was expected to do well. There is certainly talent, but not so much that this is a roster projected to regularly win. But where there’s talent, there’s competiveness. And in the Flames’ case, it’s breeding frustration.
Head coach Bob Hartley and the players up and down his roster have been vocal about the sourness they’re experiencing – the kind that usually accompanies this sort of skid. And lately it’s become more evident on the ice. Mike Cammalleri mentioned the snowball effect of playing poorly amidst discouragement, and you can easily argue its validity when presented with 6-0 and 5-0 scores.
But say what you want about lopsided scores. The Flames have been directly responsible for more than their fair share of the goals scored against them, but this past week has also seen several genuinely unlucky bounces end up in the back of their net. That’s not to say that their numbers are excusable. In my opinion, there are just more important things to focus on.
Before Calgary finally acknowledged the necessity of a rebuild, persistent disappointment with mediocrity, early playoff exits and eventually multiple years without a post-season defined the organization’s atmosphere. During game broadcasts, frustration and exasperation were commonplace in commentary and analysis related to the team, and these sentiments were widely echoed in Calgary’s fanbase. Admittedly, this atmosphere has not entirely faded. And that, in my opinion, is the most important thing to focus on.
The Flames may sit near the bottom of the standings, but the team is further along than it has been in years. There is finally cause for optimism, and right now the team’s focus should be on that optimism. Yes, the recent scores are embarrassing and angering, but it was drive and determination that kept their pre-Christmas games close, not negativity.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the strong work ethic and positive mentality that the Flames have worked to foster this season are crucial to the team’s future success. The organization has embraced the rebuild, and that has consequences. There will be rough patches, and this is exactly that. Calgary needs to trust that this skid will cease, and remain committed to a system built upon hard work. Most importantly, they need to stay loose in the light of the pressure they are currently under to score. After all, we all know what happens when you grip the stick too tight.
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