Takeaways: Flames ‘make some headway’ with third consecutive win

Doubled over with a pair of clenched fists in celebration, Connor Zaryâ€s scream echoed around the Rogers Arena heâ€d just silenced.

After banging in a crease-front rebound that marked just his second goal of the season, the Flames winger exhibited the sort of relief that comes from finding the net for the first time in 21 games.

“It felt good — I think thatâ€s a lot of emotion,†said Zary, who entered the game with a 3.8 per cent shooting percentage that said plenty about the frustration heâ€s been carrying around since his opening night snipe.

“Itâ€s been a frustrating year so far for me, personally. I think, just mentally, trying to overcome things and be better for it. When youâ€re going through something like that, I think itâ€s just as special as any other goal you score, just to have that kind of weight just lifted even for a second.â€

While it was one thing to end his painful streak, it was another to contribute meaningfully to the Flames†third win in a row.

Less than 24 hours after a gritty shootout win at home over Dallas was followed by a late-night flight over the Rocky Mountains, Zary and the Flames started a daunting date with the Canucks by spotting the hosts a 1-0 lead one minute in.

However, goals by Morgan Frost and Zary 35 seconds apart turned the tide midway through a first period that the Flames built on one period later with goals from Kevin Bahl and another frustrated forward, Yegor Sharangovich.

By nightâ€s end, the offensively challenged Flames extended their oddest of streaks to 41 straight wins when scoring four or more, triumphing 5-2.

“Really proud of our group,†said Blake Coleman, whose 300th career point was a short-handed redirect that capped the Flames†five unanswered goals.

“We could have had every excuse in the book tonight: couple tough back-to-backs, get in late, and a quick turnaround from 8 to 6 p.m., and we gave up an early goal… I could go down the line, but guys dug in. We took over the game and weâ€re starting to find our rhythm.â€

“Guys are committed, we knew it would turn at some point. It took a little longer than we would have liked, but weâ€re starting to make some headway.â€

More takeaways from the opening contest of a five-game roadie:

Rasmus Anderssonâ€s ongoing surge in play saw the veteran blue-liner pick up three assists, racking up his ninth career three-point game.

For those keeping track at home, thatâ€s now two goals and eight assists in a five-game point streak, putting him in the mix for being one of the NHLâ€s three stars of the week.

All told, he was plus-4 on the night, which is where he stands on the season — a far cry from the minus-38 his critics point to when they discuss the season he had last year.

“Much like Connor, heâ€s being rewarded now,†smiled coach Ryan Huska of his top minute-muncher.

“I think heâ€s been consistent all year for us, and now I would say heâ€s on a heater. The younger guys always talk about that.

“Heâ€s doing a lot of good things for us in a lot of different situations, whether itâ€s penalty kill or the power play now, which is starting to generate for us, and five-on-five.â€

Matt Coronatoâ€s four-game goal-scoring streak came to a halt, but heâ€s now on a five-game point streak after helping set up the Flames†opening goal.

Despite wearing a fishbowl to protect the series of stitches needed to piece his nose back together following a vicious hit from behind by Mikko Rantanen, Coronato was in the thick of things all night. Â

Earlier in the day, the league announced Rantanen would miss one game by virtue of an obscure rule essentially saying he had a mandatory suspension due to getting hoofed from two straight games within a 41-day window.

Perhaps Coronato is counting his blessings, as the hit Rantanen laid on Alexander Romanov earlier in the week has put the Islanders defender on the shelf for up to six months after having to undergo shoulder surgery.

The horrific hit on Coronato warranted more than just one game, but such is life in the NHL.

Lost in the Flames†offensive outburst was the fact that after allowing the first shot of the night to beat him clean a mere 65 seconds in, Dustin Wolf rebounded with a stellar outing that saw him finish with 28 saves.

“Weâ€re finding our groove,†said Wolf, who watched his backup shine in the previous two wins.

“Itâ€s good to get the road trip off on the right foot.

“You can see in our game weâ€re giving up less chances. When you score five, youâ€re going to win a lot of games. We did our job on the back end and the forwards did theirs, and we came out with two points.â€

The Flames make the longest charter flight the NHL has to offer Monday for a Wednesday visit in Tampa.

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