Three Things Week 5 Edition: FINALLY! Some Goals….Once This Week.

The Flames went undefeated this week! Ok, so they only played 2 games, but it’s a start. Calgary had a light schedule game wise, but they had to deal with the Penguins and Devils and they came out on top both times. Both games went beyond regulation with Calgary defeating Pittsburgh 2-1 in OT and the Devils 5-4 in a shootout. I think the Flames would be pretty happy with that outcome if you asked them on Monday. Here’s what we have for the Week 5 Edition of Three Things.

Calgary Gets More Than 3: Goals Are Hard To Score

The Flames have had a little trouble putting the puck in the net this season, but they exploded for 4 goals on Sunday night in their 5-4 SO victory over the NJ Devils. How long has it been since the Flames has such an offensive outburst? October 14th. Calgary put 5 in against the Vancouver Canucks and prior to that they’ve only scored 4 or more twice. Sunday night’s goal scoring barrage moved the Flames up to……29th in the league with 33 markers. While Sunday was entertaining, it’s time to ramp up the goal scoring if Calgary plans on going anywhere this season.

Top Line, Playing Like A Top Line: Gaudreau, Monahan and Ferland Look Unstoppable

The Flames had a good week and as the top line goes, so do the Flames. Calgary’s line of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Micheal Ferland accounted for 8 points this week. Sean Monahan had 2 goals (also had a shootout score), Micheal Ferland had a goal and Johnny Gaudreau had 3 assists as well. Micheal Ferland, it would seem, has cemented himself into that top line with his play as of late. Ferland had 8 shots on net this week and looks more like a top line player with each passing day. There’s a good chance that once Jaromir Jagr comes back, he doesn’t slide back onto the top line. The chemistry between Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland is clicking and thriving so why change what’s working?

Matthew Tkachuk: Extra Time Suits Him

Both Flames games went beyond regulation this week and Matthew Tkachuk figured into both. On Thursday his undressing of Sidney Crosby set up Mark Giordano for the game winner in overtime. Sunday night he netted the game winning goal in the shootout to give Calgary a 5-4 win over the NJ Devils. While Sean Monahan is Mr. Overtime for the Flames, Matthew Tkachuk had himself quite the week getting the Flames two wins over two quality teams.

by Mark Parkinson