The Calgary Flames are back on the ice after the Olympic break, gearing up for a whirlwind stretch of games starting in California against the San Jose Sharks. This marks the beginning of a challenging and travel-heavy period for the Flames, with a packed schedule that promises plenty of action.
A Closer Look at the Final 26 Games
The Flames kick things off with three games in four nights on the West Coast: starting Feb. 26 in San Jose, then Feb. 28 in Los Angeles, and Mar. 1 in Anaheim. They return home for a trio of matchups, with the trade deadline looming: Mar. 3 against Dallas, Mar. 5 against Ottawa, and then Mar. 7 against Carolina after the Mar. 6 trade deadline.
Next, they head east for a grueling five games in eight nights: Mar. 9 in Washington, Mar. 10 at the NY Rangers, Mar. 12 in New Jersey, Mar. 14 at the NY Islanders, and Mar. 16 in Detroit.
Back in Calgary, they face six home games, playing every other night: Mar. 18 vs. St.
Louis, Mar. 20 vs. Florida, Mar. 22 vs.
Tampa Bay, Mar. 24 vs. Los Angeles, Mar. 26 vs.
Anaheim, and Mar. 28 vs. Vancouver.
Their final road trip is a daunting six-game journey: Mar. 30 in Colorado, Apr. 2 in Vegas, Apr. 4 in Anaheim, Apr. 7 in Dallas, Apr. 9 back in Colorado, and Apr. 11 in Seattle. The Flames wrap up the regular season at home with games on Apr. 12 against Utah, Apr. 14 against Colorado, and Apr. 16 against Los Angeles.
Schedule Details and Challenges
The Flames are set to play 26 games over a span of 50 days. This schedule is even more compressed than their 2021-22 season, where they played 25 games in the same timeframe due to a COVID-19 disruption. With 12 home games and 14 on the road, including three sets of back-to-back games involving travel, the team will be put to the test.
They face 15 games against current playoff contenders, including a tough final stretch with eight of their last nine games against teams in the playoff picture. Their last road trip, a Western Conference marathon, is against playoff-bound teams, including three encounters with Colorado.
The Flames only have two breaks with multiple days between games, both during their final road trip: Mar. 31-Apr. 1 and Apr. 5-6.
Roster Speculations and Trade Deadline
As the trade deadline approaches, there's buzz around potential roster changes for the Flames. Having already traded Rasmus Andersson, names like Blake Coleman, Zach Whitecloud, and Nazem Kadri are being discussed as possible trade assets as the Flames aim to bolster their future with picks and prospects.
Currently sitting 29th overall in the NHL standings, the Flames could see further roster changes before the Mar. 6 deadline, potentially making the final stretch even more challenging.
Stay tuned for the 2026 Trade Deadline Special on March 6th, where the Daily Faceoff crew will provide comprehensive coverage of all the moves, with expert analysis and insights. Don't miss the action live on their YouTube channel.