The surprising Calgary Flames will strive to stay unbeaten when they host Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.
The Flames have opened the season with three straight wins, their most recent triumph coming Sunday against the provincial and division rival Edmonton Oilers. Last season, they didn’t win three in a row until mid-December.
“It’s important to get a good start,” forward Jonathan Huberdeau said. “Last year we dug ourselves a big hole, so I think coming in and getting some good wins and feeling good about ourselves is what we needed.”
Calgary has been fueled by the play of Huberdeau, as well as linemates Anthony Mantha and Martin Pospisil. Huberdeau shares the team lead with five points (three goals, two assists) and is alone at the top in goals through three games. Pospisil also has five points (one goal, four assists) and Mantha has four (two goals, two assists).
“I think what makes us work as a line is that we all bring something a bit different, but it complements each other well,” Mantha said. “You’ve got one of the best passers in the world on that line in Huby. And then with Pospy, his work ethic is unbelievable. … I find that creates room for everyone else on the ice.”
Huberdeau hopes to bounce back after a large drop-off in each his first two seasons with the Flames following his career-high 115-point output (30 goals, NHL-leading 85 assists) in 2021-22 with the Florida Panthers. He had 55 points (15 goals, 40 assists) in his first season in Calgary and 52 points (12 goals, 40 assists) last season.
“You just build from that (start),” Huberdeau said after tallying two goals and two assists in Saturday’s win over the Philadelphia Flyers. “Having these kind of nights helps the confidence, and I just want to go up from there.”
The Blackhawks arrive in Calgary having secured their first win of the season on Saturday, taking a 5-2 victory against the Oilers. That contest was preceded by a 2-1 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, giving Chicago points in consecutive games after dropping their season opener.
“With our season last year and how disappointed we were about that, obviously we were coming into this year and wanting to get a lot better,” Bedard said. “And I know for (the Flames), a lot of people had doubted them to start the year, and they started off strong. It’s three games, so it’s not a huge deal, but I’m sure they’re pretty fired up going into each game, and so are we.”
Bedard had a goal and two assists in the win against Edmonton to bring his total to five points (one goal, four assists). He shares the team lead with Teuvo Teravainen, who recorded four points (two goals, two assists) against the Oilers.
After finishing second-to-last in the NHL in each of the past two seasons, the Blackhawks added depth and experience to their roster over the summer as they look to take a step forward.
“We can really frustrate teams and just be annoying to play against,” Bedard said. “I think that’s going to be our identity: a lot of simplicity. But we have the skill to make plays when it opens up.”
–Field Level Media