The Calgary Flames have won 3 straight games, and it seems optimism is a whole lot higher than it was a week ago, when the Flames fell 4-0 to Minnesota .  Since that time, wins over New Jersey, Minnesota again, and Detroit have vaulted Calgary back into the postseason.  So what’s different?

Head Coach Brent Sutter said today it has nothing to do with systems changes or tweaking structure.  And that you can’t really argue.  In watching the Flames the past 180 minutes, it’s pretty simple in my eyes.  The Flames have executed consistently, and they’ve done the things they’ve needed to do to score goals and win games.  That’s happened for 3 straight games.

I kept cautioning myself that last Wednesday’s 4-0 loss to Minnesota was not indicitive of things we’d seen all season, nor would it be what we’d see for the stretch drive.  But it was hard not to be sour following a game like that.  But that woke the team up…Curtis Glencross said today they all had a reality check, and they got back to working hard and doing what they needed to do in game situations.

The Flames have scored 14 goals in 3 games.  How?  By making scoring opportunities happen through hard work.  Goals from Daymond Langkow, Eric Nystrom, Matt Stajan and David Moss against New Jersey are perfect examples.  What about Jarome Iginla’s and Rene Bourque’s third period tallies against Detroit?  Same thing.  There’s always been an offensive element to what Brent Sutter wants out of his team. 

Sometimes they’ve gone out and done the things needed to generate opportunities.  And sometimes they haven’t.  Maybe there was some discouraging moments, when the work was being put in, but the goals weren’t coming.  But WHEN it happens, they have the opportunity for solid success.

Sutter said today that the coaching staff has never tried to limit creativity.  All he ever wanted was responsibility when you didn’t have the puck.  The last 3 games, that’s been there.  Iginla broke up a scoring chance at one end, and set up a goal at the other.  Chris Higgins and Daymond Langkow have been generating chances at one end, and snuffing them out at the other.  It’s possible to score and play strong defensively, if the work ethic and the consistency is there.

The last 3 games, it has been.  Now there’s 16 more games to. ..can they play like this for most of those games?  That’s the million dollar question.  We all know they’ll have to if a postseason berth is going to be secured.

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