Flames Look to Keep the Wins Coming Against Blackhawks

The Calgary Flames are on a roll and hope to keep it going when they face the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. With young star Matt Coronato firing on all cylinders and the team clicking, Calgary is chasing a three-game win streak—something they haven’t pulled off since before Thanksgiving.

Coronato has been stealing the spotlight lately. He grabbed a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Kings, just days after setting up Jonathan Huberdeau’s overtime winner against Anaheim. Speaking of Huberdeau, he’s been clutch, scoring the game-winner on Saturday, but head coach Ryan Huska is all about Coronato’s effort.

Another key piece of the Flames’ success has been goaltender Dustin Wolf. He stopped 31 of 32 shots against the Kings and has been solid in net recently. While he might be due for a breather, it’s hard to ignore his 2-0-0 record against Chicago this season, with a respectable 2.51 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.

Blackhawks: Learning the Ropes

On the other side, the Blackhawks are still finding their footing. With the fewest points in the NHL, they’re focusing on developing their young squad rather than racking up wins. Saturday’s game against Edmonton was a classic case of “close but no cigar”—Chicago blew a 3-1 lead and ended up losing after giving up three unanswered goals.

Veteran defenseman Alec Martinez, back after 15 games out with a neck injury, put it bluntly: “We’ve got to learn how to play a full 60 minutes. When you don’t, bad habits creep in, and you give teams chances to come back. That’s what happened to us.”

Meanwhile, all eyes are on rookie phenom Connor Bedard. He’s been a bright spot in an otherwise tough season, leading the team with 38 points. His nine-game point streak ended Saturday, but he’s shown he can perform against Calgary, racking up a goal and two assists in their December matchup.

Flames Already Own the Series

Calgary has already secured the season series against Chicago, turning the tables after losing two of three meetings last year. Coronato has been especially good in these games, with three goals and an assist against the Blackhawks this season.

Monday’s game kicks off a tough road stretch for the Flames, with six of their next seven games away from home.

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The Bottom Line

The Flames are riding high, with Coronato and Wolf leading the charge. If they can stay consistent and capitalize on Chicago’s defensive struggles, they’ll be tough to beat. For the Blackhawks, it’s all about learning and improving. If Bedard can get some help and the team plays a full game, they might just pull off a surprise.

Calgary may have the edge, but don’t count out a young, hungry Chicago squad looking to make a statement. It should be a fun one to watch!