They weren’t dead, but the pulse was weakening.
In a storyline similar to what we saw last season, when a slow start cost them any chance at a playoff repeat, the Calgary Flames had no regulation wins in their first six outings.
Their only victory was an overtime squeaker over a hobbled bunch from Buffalo.
As the lads packed their bags Sunday for a daunting two-day test in Chicago and St. Louis, fans were already calling for coach Glen Gulutzan’s head and had given up on another Calgary newcomer in goaltender Brian Elliott.
The TV crew from the popular true-crime series, 48 Hours, was mobilized (OK, not really. But let’s pretend) to start investigating the circumstances surrounding the Flames’ lifeless body of work this season.
Good thing, too, as the two-day window in which they captured as much evidence as possible produced remarkable footage of how the Flames staved off an early autopsy.
A gutsy shootout win in Chicago Monday, followed by a miraculously dominant performance 500 km down the road in St. Louis Tuesday, had hockey authorities puzzled over how the team could go from flat-lining to fourth place in the Pacific division.
It’s as puzzling as it is impressive that the Flames could go from being as porous and fragile a club as the NHL had to being road warriors in tough towns on back-to-back nights.
The league’s worst power play suddenly came to life with three goals in two outings, the goaltending was finally steady (if not spectacular), turnovers were finally limited, and the NHL’s most penalized team started becoming more disciplined.
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To better understand the circumstances surrounding the curious turnabout, perhaps it’s best to look at the various suspects involved:
Brian Elliott
After a summer of hype, Elliott’s debut as a Flame couldn’t have gone worse. His poor performance even prompted many in town to finger him as the chief culprit.
He was so shaky Gulutzan decided not to start him at home against his former Blues club on Saturday, fueling the theory he simply wasn’t the starter the Flames had hoped.
48 Hours investigation findings: He’s a stud, stealing the game in Chicago with a five-bell save in the dying seconds, followed by seven straight stops in the shootout. He was the star of the game in both outings (vs. Chicago and St. Louis) and is clearly capable of being the starter the Flames need.
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Glen Gulutzan
The early drubbings against bottom-feeders had some in town suggesting the new coach was in over his head. Even the players had to question whether his new system could work. Gulutzan continually jumbled his lines and the one constant of the first six games was losing.
48 Hours investigation findings: After sitting defenceman Dennis Wideman for several games, he re-inserted the veteran just in time for him to score the game-opener in St. Louis. He’s finally found some line combinations that work, proving the new system is fully functional when played properly.
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Johnny Gaudreau
Through the first six games, Gaudreau had one goal and took plenty of heat from fans who suggested missing camp hurt his timing. They also wondered if cashing in huge prompted him to try to do too much. Usually worth the price of admission, he was invisible for several games.
48 Hours investigation findings: He was the best skater on the ice in Chicago with six shots, which is encouraging given how much he struggled on the road last year. He appears to have his legs — and his groove — back.
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Brad Treliving
The Flames general manager took his share of criticism for the signing of veteran defenceman Nicklas Grossmann, who had been scratched since opening night, when two first-period turnovers led to Oilers goals.
The signing of Kris Versteeg days before the season opener was seen as desperate by some.
48 Hours investigation findings: Grossmann finally returned to the lineup Tuesday against St. Louis and was solid.
Versteeg may be the steadiest of all Flames forwards this year, scoring the shootout winner in Chicago and making a gorgeous pass to set up Deryk Engelland’s winner in St. Louis. He’s a top-six mainstay.
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The defence
Considered the strength of the team all summer, the back end was atrocious the first six games, allowing 27 goals.
In one game against Edmonton, they were burned for an unheard-of five breakaways. Even captain Mark Giordano was shaky, taking the blame for Saturday’s loss.
48 Hours investigation findings: The blue line tightened up, limiting turnovers and chances and chipping in with two goals in the 4-1 win over St. Louis, including Deryk Engelland’s stunning first-period goal, which would end up being the game-winner.
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Other people of interest
Pre-season hype had Alex Chiasson complimenting Gaudreau and Sean Monahan on the top line, which hadn’t come to fruition the first six games.
This is supposed to be Sam Bennett’s breakout year, but he opened the year snake-bitten (as usual). Jury is out on whether Matthew Tkachuk, the Flames sixth overall pick last June, can hang with the big boys past his nine-game tryout.
48 Hours investigation findings: Chiasson played well with the top lads the last two outings.
Bennett was the best skater on the ice against St. Louis, scoring once and adding an assist to make life miserable for the Blues. He’s the real deal.
Tkachuk is a future star and was effective in his hometown of St. Louis Tuesday, but the team is still unsure if they’ll keep him around. Smart money says they will.
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With a 3-4-1 record, the Flames (and their new system) are still clearly a work in progress. However, by stopping the bleeding on a poor start over the last 48 hours, they now have a fighting chance at getting back the swagger needed for them to challenge for the playoffs.
Yes, this is still a rebuilding club, but with a roster talented enough to fare far better than they showed in the opening six games.
