Flames feeling better about their game after ending eight-game skid

Calgary Flames' Blake Coleman, left, celebrates his goal with teammate Mikael Backlund during third period NHL hockey action against the New York Rangers in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames’ slumbering offence finally woke up on Sunday.

Led by Blake Coleman’s two goals, the Flames erupted for a season-high five goals in a 5-1 victory over the New York Rangers, snapping Calgary’s eight-game losing skid.

“Feels good to get a win,” said Coleman, who leads the team with five goals. “Last few games, we thought we honestly played pretty well, just couldn’t finish and special teams, we were pretty undisciplined, so we corrected those things today and got a couple bounces.”

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Calgary entered the night last in goals having lit the red lamp just 15 times in nine games. That had the Flames dead last in the NHL’s overall standings, too.

They’re still last in both, but the team’s first win in five games at the Scotiabank Saddledome has the players feeling a lot better about themselves as they head out on a four-game road trip that begins Tuesday in Toronto.

“It’s a weight off our shoulders,” said Connor Zary. “You come in here, you take a deep breath, you hear the music playing, and everyone’s talking, everyone’s laughing, and that’s what you want, right?

“You play hockey because you love it and you have fun, and no one wants to go through those stretches.”

Zary was instrumental in a pivotal sequence halfway through the second period. After the Rangers squandered a glorious chance to tie it at one end, Zary dipsy-doodled around Braden Schneider before sending a no-look backhand pass into the slot that Yegor Sharangovich buried to make it 3-1.

Nazem Kadri and Kevin Bahl also scored for Calgary.

The offensive fireworks appeared after coach Ryan Huska made noise himself with the unexpected scratching of 22-year-old right-winger Matt Coronato.

Considered the team’s most natural goal scorer, Coronato signed a seven-year, US$45.5 million extension on May 3, 2025, after the 2021 first-round pick scored 24 times last year in his first full NHL season.

Coronato scored twice in the Flames home opener, but had gone pointless while going a minus-eight in his six games since.

“We love Matty,” said Coleman. “He’s a great kid. He’s a hard worker. Everybody wants him in our lineup. But, I think it was just one of those things where eight in a row, something’s got to give, and they’re trying to make a point. It could have been a number of guys.”

Interestingly, Sharangovich’s first goal comes after he was banished to the press box for two games last week before drawing back in the lineup on Friday.

Sharangovich is also in the first year of a long-term deal, having signed a five-year, US$28.75 million extension on July 1, 2024, on the heels of a career-best 31-goal, 59-point season in 2023-24.

“He’s got more urgency in his game,” said Huska, assessing Sharangovich’s improved play since getting back in. “He’s around the puck a little bit more right now. I’ve seen them make some plays in the offensive zone because of him holding on to (the puck) for a little bit longer instead of being a one and done guy.”

The hope is the night off will also help Coronato reset.

“For him, it’s just come back in the lineup, feel good about the quality of player that he is, know he’s a good player, and just go play the game,” said Huska, who Sunday morning vowed Coronato would be back in the lineup against the Maple Leafs.

“Just go out there and play his game because when Matt does that, for me, his work ethic is never in question. He’s a try-too-hard guy sometimes, he wants to help the team in whatever way he can, but sometimes if you try too hard, it just doesn’t work.”

In another lineup shuffle, Huska moved centre Morgan Frost to the wing with Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau and that new-look trio combined for the first two goals.

“I liked it, I really did. There was a little bit creativity to it, where there was three guys that were trying to make some plays, especially through the neutral zone into the offensive zone,” said Huska. “That’s where they can be a good line for us. We’ll see. We’ll give them another chance.”

Recording the win was Dustin Wolf. A workhorse so far making his ninth start and fifth in a row, Wolf had 30 stops.

“He makes some pretty momentum-shifting saves and saves that get the crowd out of their seats, and it’s fun to watch him play,” said Coleman. “Hopefully this is the first of many games we give him some run support.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2025.

Darren Haynes, The Canadian Press