Vanessa: Zero wins. Four losses. And a defense that looks like it’s playing in fog. If you’re a Calgary Flames fan, this week has been brutal.
Nick: It’s not just the scoreboard, Vanessa. It’s the systemic breakdowns. We talked about this after Seattle. We talked about this before Colorado. And now? We lost to Colorado by four goals. Again.
Vanessa: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Vanessa, and this is your daily dive into the NHL. I’m joined by Nick, who is definitely not smiling right now.
Nick: I’m serious. The Flames are sitting at 0-4-0. Eighth in the Pacific Division. That’s historic bad for an opening month. Tonight, we preview the Anaheim Ducks coming to town on Saturday.
Vanessa: Here’s what we’re tackling: First, breaking down the Avalanche blowout and why the neutral zone was a disaster. Second, looking at the injury report—Huberdeau, O’Connor, Miner, Merkulov—are all out. Who steps up? And third, our keys to stopping Anaheim from making this five-game skid.
Nick: And remember, last night Cale Makar had two goals and an assist. Devon Toews and Jaden Schwartz added two each. The Avalanche didn’t just win; they dominated possession.
Vanessa: Let’s start with the game that just happened. Thursday night. Canada Life Centre. The Flames hosted the Colorado Avalanche. And if you weren’t watching, let me save you some time: it was a 7-3 rout. How do you even begin to explain that defensive collapse?
Nick: Well, Vanessa, I actually predicted a 5-2 loss. So I was optimistic. But seven to three? That’s a different level of failure. The issue wasn’t just goaltending. It was the forecheck. Colorado’s top line—MacKinnon, Makar, Toews—they exploited the gap between Calgary’s first and second defensive pairs constantly.
Vanessa: Right. And earlier in the week, against Seattle, we saw Mackie Samoskevich go for four points. Now it’s Makar going for three points. Is there a pattern here? Are the opposing teams finding a specific weakness in Calgary’s structure?
Nick: Absolutely. It’s the neutral-zone entry. Calgary is getting pushed back too early. When you lose the board battles in your own zone—which we discussed after the Seattle game—you’re playing catch-up immediately. Against Colorado, they didn’t even try to cycle much. They just dumped and chased, but they chased *hard*. They won the puck battle behind the net every single time.
Vanessa: So the Flames are giving up easy zone entries. That means their penalty kill is likely getting torched too, right? Because if the power play can’t set up, the penalty kill has to clear pucks constantly.
Nick: Exactly. And look at the scoring leaders from last night. Mikael Backlund had the goal and the point for Calgary. Yegor Sharangovich had the assist. That’s it. One line carried the offense while the rest of the team got picked apart. You can’t survive on one line when your defense is allowing shots from the slot like that.
Vanessa: It feels like the confidence is gone. You see it in the body language. Players are hanging their heads after turnovers. How do you snap that mental reset button before Anaheim comes to town on Saturday?
Nick: You simplify. We said this after Seattle. You stop trying to make the highlight-reel pass. You dump it in, you chase it, you win the physical battle. Anaheim isn’t Colorado. They don’t have Makar or MacKinnon. But they’re also hungry. If Calgary plays timid hockey, Anaheim will feast.
Vanessa: So the story heading into Saturday is: Can the Flames stop being predictable? Or are they just going to hand another division rival a victory? Stick with us, because we need to talk about who is actually on the ice right now, given the massive injury list. Don't go anywhere.
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Nick: Alright, let’s get into the roster crunch. The injury report is a nightmare. Jonathan Huberdeau is on IR. Logan O’Connor is on IR. Trent Miner is on IR. Georgii Merkulov is on IR. Four key pieces missing. Who is left to carry the load?
Vanessa: It’s scary, Nick. Huberdeau and O’Connor are major offensive contributors. Their absence means the bottom six needs to step up massively. Morgan Frost and Ryan Strome are probably seeing more ice time. But can they handle the minutes against a team like Anaheim?
Nick: Frost is the veteran presence here. He knows how to manage the game. But look at the forward group. You’ve got Joel Farabee, Samuel Honzek, Brennan Othmann, Aydar Suniev, Matt Coronato, Matvei Gridin, Adam Klapka, Maxim Tsyplakov, and Martin Pospisil. That’s a lot of bodies, but not necessarily a lot of chemistry.
Vanessa: And where does Mikael Backlund fit in? He was the leader of the pack against Colorado, but he’s aging. Can he still carry that top-six workload alongside Sharangovich?
Nick: Backlund is resilient. He got the goal against Colorado. He’s still effective in the face-off circle and in defensive zone coverage. But relying on him for everything is risky. If he gets tired, the whole line collapses. I think we’ll see Backlund paired with someone younger, maybe Farabee or Honzek, to give him support.
Vanessa: What about the defense? Kevin Bahl, Joel Hanley, Yan Kuznetsov, Jake Middleton, Simon Nemec, Zayne Parekh, Zach Whitecloud. Seven defenders. Who is starting?
Nick: Nemec and Parekh are the young cores. They need to play. Bahl and Middleton provide size. Whitecloud is the shutdown guy. I expect Whitecloud to be matched against Anaheim’s best winger. And Hanley? He’s the steady hand. He won’t score many points, but he won’t make mistakes.
Vanessa: And the goaltending situation. Devin Cooley started against Seattle. Dustin Wolf is the established starter. Who starts against Anaheim?
Nick: Wolf should start. He’s the better talent. But Cooley played well in limited action. If Wolf gets pulled, which he might after that 7-3 performance, Cooley could see his second start of the season. Either way, the defense needs to give them a chance. Right now, they aren’t.
Vanessa: It’s a tough spot. Losing Huberdeau and O’Connor changes the entire dynamic. The speed is gone. The creativity is diminished. Can the remaining players fill that void?
Nick: They have to. There’s no other option. This is where depth matters. If the bottom six can generate even one or two goals, the game becomes manageable. If they go cold again, it’s going to be a long weekend.
Vanessa: So, the key is simplicity. Win the surface battles. Use the forwards you have wisely. And hope the defense doesn’t leave gaps. Let’s move to our final segment: Keys to the Game and a bold prediction.
Nick: Okay, keys to the game. Number one: Face-offs. Calgary needs to win 55% of draws. If they lose the dot, they can’t establish control. Number two: Shot suppression. No high-danger chances. Keep the puck out of the slot. Colorado did exactly the opposite.
Vanessa: And number three? Power play efficiency. They need to convert. Backlund and Sharangovich showed they can score. If they can get a man advantage, it opens up the forecheck.
Nick: Agreed. And my bold prediction? Calgary wins 3-2. I know, I know. After losing to Seattle and Colorado, you think I’d go pessimistic. But Anaheim is inconsistent. They’re not a elite team. If Calgary simplifies their game, they can steal this one.
Vanessa: Wow. A win? After 0-4? I’m skeptical, Nick. I’m thinking Calgary loses again. Maybe 4-3. Another heartbreaker. The momentum is just too negative.
Nick: That’s why I’m bold. Everyone expects another loss. But sometimes, hitting rock bottom is the only place to bounce back. I think the Flames find a way to grind out a win. Just barely.
Vanessa: I’ll take the under on that. I think the defense still leaks. But hey, a fan can dream. What do you say, listeners? Do you agree with Nick’s bold prediction, or are you joining me in the doom camp?
Nick: Drop your scores in the comments. Let’s see if we can rally behind this team. Even if it’s just one win.
Vanessa: Thanks for tuning in to today’s Beatline episode. We covered the Avalanche blowout, the injury crisis, and our predictions for Anaheim. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. Go Flames!
Nick: Simpler game. Win the boards. See you next time.