Flames Drop Fifth Straight to Start Season

A 4-2 loss to the visiting Anaheim Ducks on Saturday left the Calgary Flames as the only NHL team without a single point 12 days into the season. The loss marks the first time in franchise history that the team has started a season with five consecutive defeats.

Calgary fell behind early but managed to tie the contest 2-2 in the second period following a goal by 20-year-old Aydar Suniev, his first in the NHL, in front of an announced home crowd of 16,894. Forward Matt Coronato provided assists on both Calgary goals, earning his first multi-point game of the campaign.

Power Play Struggles and Game-Deciding Turnover

Despite outshooting Anaheim 21-20 through two periods, Calgary was unable to capitalize on three power-play opportunities during the third period. Instead, a turnover in the offensive zone led to a short-handed game-winning goal by Anaheim’s Ryan Poehling.

The Ducks entered the matchup on the second night of back-to-back road games, following a 5-1 victory against the Winnipeg Jets, and started backup goaltender Ville Husso. Calgary’s power play fell to 2-for-10 overall on the season after going scoreless on Saturday, while the team has been outscored 27-8 over its five opening contests.

Coaches and Players See Gradual Growth

Head coach Ryan Huska noted post-game that while the team remains winless, he viewed Saturday’s effort as their best performance of the year. He emphasized that focusing on process and daily improvement will eventually yield results in the standings. Huska also rejected the idea that a shorter training camp or a young roster contributed to the slow start, stating that established players aged 23 to 26 are expected to perform at a high level.

Defenceman Kevin Bahl pointed out that the squad fought hard and generated opportunities against Anaheim, noting the need for the team to build its own morale through physical play and hard forechecking. The defeat comes during the Flames’ final season at the Saddledome before their planned relocation to Scotia Place next year. The two teams will meet again Tuesday at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

Broadcasters and Provincial Time Shifts Force Late Puck Drops

Puck drops across Western Canada are seeing unprecedented variation this season following decisions by Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba to remain permanently on daylight saving time. Because the National Hockey League’s schedule is heavily shaped by broadcast rights holders, ending the seasonal clock shifts has introduced new scheduling wrinkles for teams and viewers alike.

Flames and Oilers Adjust to 9 P.M. Starts

In Alberta, the Calgary Flames will play eight games starting at 9 p.m. this season, including two home contests at the Saddledome on Dec. 26 against Vancouver and Jan. 16 against Los Angeles. Flames president and chief executive officer Robert Hayes noted that while the timing is outside the team’s control, late Saturday starts might offer a stronger party atmosphere. Calgary forward Ryan Strome mentioned his young children will be unable to attend those late contests, joking that his tickets will be free those evenings. The Flames also feature eight afternoon starts beginning at 2:30 p.m. or earlier, up from five in 2025-26.

The Edmonton Oilers face seven 9 p.m. starts of their own, featuring home matchups at Rogers Place on Nov. 7 against the Canucks and March 6 against Chicago. Oilers defenceman Jake Walman, who is originally from Toronto, remarked that family back home will likely find it difficult to stay up for those games. Edmonton forward Trent Frederic plans to modify his daily routine by taking later naps and eating lunch later to stay alert for late-night puck drops.

Changes Across Vancouver and Winnipeg Schedule

The Vancouver Canucks are dealing with unusual road start times as well, ranging from 4:45 p.m. to 7:40 p.m., along with a five-different-start-time stretch during a late-January road trip. Canucks winger Brendan Gallagher acknowledged the setup is unprecedented, though he expects players to adjust their routines once games get underway.

Meanwhile, after Manitoba declared its switch to permanent daylight time on Sept. 17, the NHL pushed back 12 Winnipeg Jets home games by an hour, though none will start later than 7:30 p.m. local time. Jets supporters will still encounter late road starts, including a 9:30 p.m. start in Utah on Dec. 2 and a 10 p.m. game in Vancouver on Feb. 13.

Cotter Seals Victory in Extra Time

Vancouver newcomer Paul Cotter scored 1:58 into 3-on-3 overtime to cap off a wild 6-5 victory against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night at Rogers Place. Cotter grabbed a pass from Max Sasson following strong forechecking to backhand the game-winning goal past Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry. Cotter also opened the scoring for Vancouver with a first-period shorthanded tally on a 2-on-1 break alongside Arshdeep Bains.

High-Scoring Battle in Edmonton

The season-opening clash featured debuting head coaches Manny Malhotra for Vancouver and Mike Babcock for Edmonton. The Canucks built a 5-2 lead early in the third period thanks to goals from Marco Rossi, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Sasson, and Elias Pettersson. Edmonton mounted a fierce comeback late in regulation, aided by a hat trick and two assists from blue-liner Evan Bouchard, along with two goals from former Canuck Vasily Podkolzin. Podkolzin tied the game 5-5 with just 41.8 seconds remaining on a 6-on-4 power play with Jarry pulled.

Game Notes and Next Matchup

Vancouver netminder Kevin Lankinen made 30 saves on 35 shots to secure the victory, while Edmonton outshot the visitors 36-21 overall. The Canucks played without injured regulars Thatcher Demko and Filip Chytil, while forward Brendan Gallagher made his team debut. Vancouver converted 1-of-2 power plays compared to Edmonton’s 1-of-4 performance. Both clubs face each other again Thursday at 7 p.m. in Vancouver.