Four games into the 2026-27 season, Calgary has already carved out an identity on the penalty kill.
The Flames have shut down 12 straight opposing power plays entering Saturday’s home game against Anaheim at the Scotiabank Saddledome, a run that has lifted them to the fifth-best PK in the NHL. The only blemish came early, when Seattle captain Jordan Eberle scored on the power play in the first period of the regular season.
Martin Pospisil has been right in the middle of it, and he clearly takes the role seriously. The Slovak centreman has logged more than six minutes of shorthanded ice time through the first 240 minutes of the season, including a season-high 3:19 in Vancouver a week ago. For him, the work starts well before the puck drops.
“(We) don't give them more space, and (we are) aggressive,” he said Saturday morning. “We have pretty good videos on how all the other teams are ever playing.
“I think it's been good so far.”
Pospisil may be asked to shoulder even more of the load against the Ducks. Sam Honzek, his countryman and another key penalty-killing option, did not skate Friday or Saturday morning and will not play.
Even with that absence, head coach Ryan Huska likes what he’s seen from his group on the penalty kill.
“I think they've been really good,” said Huska. “They made a mistake on our very first one that ended up in the back of the net, and other than that, they've done a really good job of pressuring at the right time.
“I think the guys are very comfortable with what's expected, and I think when we have had a breakdown, in those situations our goaltenders have made saves.
In Other News...
Flames Prospect Watch Took A Frustrating Turn In London
Londons latest outing turned into a frustrating one for Calgary Flames prospect watchers, as the Knights came up short in a 4-3 shootout loss to Erie. Aleksei Medvedev did his part with several key saves, and London got useful contributions from players such as Eloan Le Gallic and Marcus Nordmark, but the night never quite settled into the kind of clean, controlled performance that would have made for an easier watch.
The bigger issue was the way the game slipped away late, with the Knights unable to finish after building a lead and then seeing Erie tie it up in the closing minutes of regulation. Special teams and first-period scoring remained problem areas, and Ryan Brown was unavailable again because of an upper-body injury, leaving his status still uncertain as the Knights move on from a result that felt like a missed opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Flames May Be Near A Brutal Decision On Connor Zary
Connor Zarys future in Calgary has moved from a roster question to a cap-management puzzle, and the Flames are already weighing some uncomfortable options. Elliotte Friedman reported the club placed Zary on waivers, a move tied to his $3.775 million cap hit, after the Flames also tried to move him in the summer and again before waivers without finding a taker.
Now the pressure is on to find a trade before the situation gets uglier. Zarys contract can be bought out at one-third value, which would leave Calgary with a $600,000 cap charge for two more seasons, and contract termination remains on the table if nothing materializes. For a team already trying to sort out its lineup and its books, it is the kind of decision that can linger well beyond one players spot on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Suddenly Face Another Sam Honzek Concern
Sam Honzeks status has become a familiar concern for the Flames just as the schedule starts to settle in. The winger will miss the upcoming game against the Anaheim Ducks with an injury that is still being evaluated, and head coach Ryan Huska said there is no update yet on when Honzek might be available again. It is a frustrating development for a young player who has already dealt with injuries since being drafted in 2023.
Honzek had been part of the lineup in Calgarys first four regular-season games and had also been getting work on the penalty kill, which made his absence more noticeable. The Flames are now waiting for clarity on both the injury itself and how long it might keep him out, adding another layer of uncertainty around a player the club has been trying to integrate into the mix. [Read more 🡒]