Will anyone stop the Calgary Flames?

The Calgary Flames continue to be one of the hottest teams in the NHL.

On Saturday, the Flames battled a New York Rangers team that had come in feeling very good starting the season stronger than anyone might have thought.

That immediately stopped when the Flames beat them 6-0 and sent them back to New York on a long plane ride. The Flames are now 7-1-3 on the season and have been one of the toughest, most physical teams to play against in the league.

“This team is rolling right now and they are doing it the right way,” said Ryan Leslie, A Sportsnet NHL Hockey Night in Calgary host on Tuesday’s The Rod Pedersen Show.  

“It’s one thing to steal wins, but they are going about it for the most part in a way that coaches, hockey purists, and fans are entertained. They are winning close games, they are getting leads, and I don’t know if anyone saw this coming.”

Dating back to last season, Rod Pedersen has not shied away from saying talent was never the issue in Calgary. The problems have come from the team’s culture. But after losing the team’s former captain Mark Giordano, and more time with Darryl Sutter, culture seems to no longer be a problem, but something the team has thrived on in the early season.

“If anybody has had a chance to see the games it’s like wow this is surprisingly good,” said Leslie. “I say it’s kind of a surprise because anybody who has followed the Flames in the last couple of decades have known that they have not gotten out to good starts to begin the season.”

The Flames take on the 6-4-1 San Jose Sharks tonight in Calgary, in a game the Flames should come out on top of, though nothing is ever a given in the NHL.

“The San Jose Sharks are decimated with COVID-19 and the covid protocols,” said Leslie. “Seven regulars are out of their lineup, but they have been getting it done and playing some pretty good hockey. A year ago, this probably couldn’t have happened for the Sharks, but they are hanging around after getting off to a pretty good start.”

For the Flames, this marks the last home game before a seven-game eastern road trip.

“They were already on the road in the east for a good chunk of the season, and that really galvanized this group and brought them to a place where they thought alright let’s get to know each other, let’s play well and play for one another,” said Leslie.

“They are itching to get going, but you don’t want to look past this game at all,” said Leslie.

Tonight, like every game for the Flames this season, might come down to the play of their goaltender, who has been a difference maker this season and been a big part in the team’s hot start.

“I think the big thing is Jacob Markstrom,” said Leslie. “Four shutouts in nine starts. When you have a good goalie and you’ve got complete buy in and four lines rolling, it doesn’t matter who it is, you are a tough team to beat.”