The Calgary Flames can’t be stopped

The Calgary Flames are white hot for the first time in two years! Since losing their first two games of the season to the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks, the Flames have won four games in a row.

“Last year they didn’t have any win streak longer than three games,” said Brendan Parker, a Calgary Flames broadcaster on Thursday’s The Rod Pedersen Show.

“Last year stringing wins together was one of the team’s struggles. If you look through a 56 game schedule, and you are only playing the same Canadian teams and you aren’t stringing together more than three wins, it speaks to why you end up on the outside looking in for the playoffs,” said Parker

Parker believes the Flames hot start to the season is related to two main offseason concepts Darryl Sutter drilled into the team: Conditioning and starting fast.

“To me what stands out the most is that the team is showing up ready to play,” said Parker. “They have had leads in every game this road trip, and more than that, they have just played well and have come ready to play each and every game so far this season.

“If you are going to come in and put in the honest work, each and every night you will have a chance,” said Parker.

Another aspect of the team that has helped lead to the Flames success is the team’s physicality through all four lines.

“I don’t think they are going to lose many fights this year, but I don’t think it is a goon style,” said Parker. “I think it’s about tone setting. They are going to be a handful for teams to handle this year physically.”

All four games during the winning streak have come on the road, which is never an easy thing to do, especially at the beginning of the season when players are still trying to find their roles on the ice.

“The Flames have not won or swept a road trip of five games or more since 2007,” said Parker. “Everybody came in and delivered on what their offseason goals were, and now they are seeing the fruits of the labour in the early part of the year.”

Tonight, the Flames have a chance to tie that record when they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins have been ravaged by injuries as of late, and while the Penguins have been playing well as a unit, the loss of some key players may be starting to show after losing to the Tampa Bay Lighting 5-1 on Tuesday.

Everyone here at the Rod Pedersen Show will be watching to see if the Flames can continue their hot streak and finish their road trip on a high note.