Flames Beat Kraken 6-2: What Did Calgary Show Us?

A 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken is a pretty good way for the Calgary Flames to get back on their feet. After a 4-0 shutout at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary responded with six goals, contributions from up and down the lineup, and another strong home performance.

Matt Coronato was the headline, and deservedly so. He recorded a career-high four points, with a goal and three assists. Joel Farabee wasn't far behind with three points of his own. Morgan Frost and Matvei Gridin also chipped in with goals. But here's what I found interesting about this game: Calgary didn't need one player to do everything.

That's worth paying attention to. Teams can get excited about a big individual performance, but the more encouraging sign is when different players start contributing. Coronato had a terrific night, but he wasn't carrying the whole operation. Farabee, Frost, Gridin and others helped make this a team effort.

The Flames Power Play Is Becoming a Real Strength.

Calgary's special teams deserve some attention, too. The Flames went 2-for-2 with the man advantage, extending an impressive run to nine power-play goals in their last 20 opportunities over seven games. That's a significant improvement and something the team can build on. The Kraken, meanwhile, have struggled in that department, allowing 10 power-play goals in their last 17 opportunities. Calgary took advantage.

Another small story is worth noting. Mikael Backlund picked up an assist on Farabee's goal, bringing his career total to 610 points and moving him past Johnny Gaudreau into fifth place on the Flames' all-time scoring list. He's now just six points behind Joe Nieuwendyk.

Backlund doesn't always get the attention that some of Calgary's bigger names receive, but that kind of career deserves recognition. And Dustin Wolf's return was encouraging. Making his first start since October 15, he stopped 20 shots to earn his second win of the season.

What Did We Learn About the Flames?

One win doesn't solve everything, and Seattle still has problems to sort out. But Calgary showed something useful Friday night. It can get contributions from several players, its power play is producing, and Wolf is back between the pipes.

Perhaps the most encouraging part is that the Flames responded to a disappointing loss without relying on one player. That's a good habit to develop. The Flames will need more of it if they're going to keep surprising people.