Calgary Flames are exceeding early expectations

The Calgary Flames are one of the NHL’s biggest surprises out of the gate this season. The Flames are 3-0-0 to start the year, and have been led by a powerful offense, which has scored 16 goals in their first three contests.

Jonathan Huberdeau has five points in his first three games, meanwhile Rasmus Andersson is leading the charge from the back end, chipping in with five points early on. Both Daniel Vladar and Dustin Wolf have won games, as the Flames have defeated the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks.

On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Frank Seravalli discussed the Flames, and how the team is off to a much better start than many anticipated.

Yaremchuk: The surprising one is the Calgary Flames, who rolled over the Edmonton Oilers at Roger’s Place last night, to improve to 3-0-0. Their goals per game, I don’t think that’s sustainable. Frank, I was someone who picked the Flames to come dead last in the Pacific Division.

I looked at that team on paper and I thought – there is not a lot of guys who are going to be able to drive them on a night-to-night basis. But, honestly, what I think is driving them so far through three games, is there system. I think Ryan Huska deserves a ton of credit for the way this team has looked out of the gates.

Seravalli: I think what’s driving them so far, is there compete. They’ve worked hard, and they’ve pretty much bonded together, going back to camp, with them saying -we think we’re better than a lot of picked us as, we know there’s not very many expectations. They’ve got just enough core pieces, mixed with young players on the rise, that’s making them dangerous.

So, I like what were seeing. I really like the bounce back from Jonathan Huberdeau. Three games, three goals, five points, including first four-point game as a Calgary Flame. This is his third season there now, and I think that’s hugely important for this team, if their going to exceed expectations and be competitive, is to get Huberdeau back to being an 85 to 90-point player. Which he’s evidently capable of in this league. He probably just needs a little bit more opportunity.

For more on the Flames, and all the very latest from around the NHL, watch the full episode here.