Calgary Flames: 5 best games of the Johnny Gaudreau-era

4. The Calgary Flames versus the Pittsburgh Penguins

The fourth best game from the Gaudreau-era comes in 2016-17. That season saw the Flames take a long time to get warmed up. The team started 5-10-1, and by the mid-point of the season, it looked like they were in real danger of missing the playoffs. In January, the team lost four straight games, and after a shellacking in Montreal, the team took the train to their next game in Ottawa. The train ride seemed to lift everyone’s spirit as they beat the Senators and gained some mojo.

Starting on Feb. 21, the team proceeded to defeat Nashville, Tampa Bay, Florida, Carolina, Los Angeles, Detroit, and the New York Islanders to reach eight consecutive victories. This was noteworthy, as it matched the longest winning streak since the Flames moved to Calgary.

The team’s record of 10 straight wins was set in Atlanta, which occurred during the 1978-79 season. They still had two more tries to reach that record. After shutting out the Winnipeg Jets on the road for win number nine, it set the stage for the tying game at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 13.

The game was a back and forth affair, when in the third period, none other than Johnny Hockey scored the go-ahead goal on the powerplay to give Calgary a 3-2 lead. However, with 4:29 left in the game, Sidney Crosby got past Brian Elliott to tie the game and send it to overtime. The extra period settled nothing, forcing a shootout. Elliott stopped all shots, as Kris Versteeg got past Marc-Andre Fleury to give the Flames their vaunted 10 game winning streak, the longest such since the team moved to Calgary.

Elliott played in all but one of the games in the streak, with Chad Johnson backstopping the Flames’ victory in Florida. The team split all the victories evenly between home and road games and outscored opponents 55-23. 

The streak promptly ended for the Flames at the next home game against the Boston Bruins, but it salvaged their season, and the team was able to qualify for the playoffs, where they were swept in the first round by the Ducks.

3. The Calgary Flames versus the Edmonton Oilers

The third best game of the Gaudreau-era happened last season, a January 11 matchup between the Flames and Oilers. This game is noteworthy as it brought back the Battle of Alberta to levels of vitriol not seen since the 1980s. While Flames-Oilers games always are intense, with the two teams showing their lack of appreciation for one another, this game was different.

The Flames and Oilers met for the first time a couple of weeks earlier in Edmonton, with the Flames dominating their way to a decisive 5-1 victory. The rematch would be at the Scotiabank Saddledome and would see the matchup of Matthew Tkachuk and Zack Kassian take over the game.

Tkachuk made three large hits on Kassian, who took a major exception with the Flames winger for not fighting him. Kassian ragdolled Tkachuk with two minutes to go in the second period, and the game tied 3-3. Tkachuk’s plan worked perfectly as the Flames received a powerplay from Kassian’s double minor and a 10-minute misconduct. Elias Lindholm scored on that powerplay early in the third to give the Flames the lead and ultimately the victory. The Flames moved ahead of the Oilers in the Pacific Division standings based on the win.

Kassian let his frustration show after the game, “He’s just a young punk,” when the Oilers forward was asked about Tkachuk.

Tkachuk nonchalantly described the situation. “If he doesn’t want to get hit, then stay off the tracks,” adding, “If he wants to react like that, we’ll take the power play, we’ll take the game-winner, and we’ll move on in first place.”

The two teams would meet two more times following this affair, with the Flames winning once again in Edmonton and the Oilers’ last matchup in Calgary. With this much hatred produced and 10 games between these two in 2020-21, more shenanigans should be expected.

2. The Calgary Flames versus the Los Angeles Kings

For the second-best game of this era of Flames hockey, we go back to the start in 2014-15. During that season, the Flames were in their first playoff race since 2008-09, and the team was directly competing with the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings for one of the playoff spots in the Western Conference. With the emergence of Gaudreau in his rookie season and his chemistry with linemates Monahan and Jiri Hudler, the Flames had an electrifying team to watch for the first time in six seasons.

In the penultimate game of the regular season, the Flames hosted the Kings at the Saddledome. If the Flames won the game, they would clinch a playoff spot and knock out the defending Cup champions in the process. Gaudreau opened the scoring in the first period, with Hudler adding his own tally to give the Flames a 2-0 lead.

After a scoreless second, the Kings finally answered early in the third period with a goal from Jordan Nolan. The Flames held on to force the Kings to pull goaltender Jonathan Quick at the end of the period. Hudler added his second goal, an empty netter at 19:10, to seal the game.

“What an amazing feeling,” said Hudler after the game. “After we scored that empty-netter, the building was electric.”

Gaudreau echoed that sentiment, “We have a skilled team here, and I knew coming in we had a special group. It just shows tonight.”

Jonas Hiller was in net for the Flames stopping 33 of 34 shots. “To be able to beat the defending Stanley Cup champions to make the playoffs makes it even more special,” said the former goaltender. “I’m happy for the team. I’m happy for all of Calgary.”

1. The Calgary Flames versus the Vancouver Canucks.

The best game of the Gaudreau-era came shortly after the previous one. For their first playoff matchup in six years, the Flames drew the Vancouver Canucks in the opening round. The Flames jumped to a 3-1 series lead, with the Canucks winning at home to force a Game 6 in Calgary.

The Saddledome was buzzing as the C of Red could see the finish line leading to their first playoff series win since 2004. However, Vancouver tried their best early to silence the crowd. Hiller, who had started every game of the series to that point, let in two goals on three shots. He was promptly replaced by Karri Ramo, who let in another goal to give the Canucks a 3-0 lead in the first nine minutes.

The Flames began to mount a comeback, as they did so many times that season. Michael Ferland scored late in the first, with Gaudreau and Monahan adding their own markers early in the second. The Canucks regained the lead towards the end of the period, but it would be their final lead of the game.

Six minutes into the final frame, Hudler scored on the powerplay. With five minutes left, Matt Stajan scored the first playoff goal of his career, sending the C of Red into pandemonium. Former head coach of the Flames Bob Hartley noted, “We had to yell the line changes in the third period once we took the lead — we couldn’t communicate.”

The Flames would add two empty-net goals to win the game 7-4 and the series with it. The series victory was the Flames first since their 2004 run to the Stanley Cup final, and the second time the team won a series since 1989.

The team noted how much of an impact the fans had on the game. Hartley said, “I’ve never seen this. I’ve been in great markets. I remember winning the Stanley Cup in Colorado… to see every fan [in Calgary] with the Flaming C, wearing it proudly — you almost feel like they’re on the bench, will you.”

Gaudreau stated after the game, “It’s hard to lose games when you’ve got people cheering like that for you every game.”

Hopefully, the Flames can add more memorable moments as the Johnny Gaudreau-era continues in 2020-21.