Flames Return Home with Momentum, Face Streaking Islanders in Matinee Clash
After a long stretch on the road, the Calgary Flames are back in the comfort of the Scotiabank Saddledome, and the timing couldn’t feel better. A five-game homestand kicks off with a Saturday matinee against the New York Islanders - and with the team coming off a gritty win in Chicago, there’s a sense that the Flames might be heating up at just the right moment.
Calgary wrapped up their road trip on a high note Thursday night, grinding out a 3-1 win over the Blackhawks. It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective - a full 60-minute effort built on strong checking, timely scoring, and a powerplay that’s finally starting to click. Over their last two games, the Flames have gone 4-for-7 with the man advantage, and what stands out is how they’re scoring: second-chance goals, net-front battles, and the kind of greasy efforts that coaches love.
That’s exactly the kind of identity head coach Ryan Huska is looking to cement as the team returns home.
“You have to find a way to be consistent with your effort,” Huska said postgame in Chicago. “I like the way our group plays at home for the most part - we do a good job on the checking side of the game. Now, the challenge is to build off tonight and the powerplay success we’ve had lately by executing a little quicker, being more efficient with the puck.”
Efficiency and consistency - two words that could define this next stretch of games for the Flames as they look to climb the standings ahead of the Olympic break. Eight of Calgary’s final nine games before the pause will be played in front of the C of Red.
One player who’s certainly looking forward to being back in familiar surroundings is Matt Coronato. The Long Island native grew up watching the Islanders, and now he’ll face them while riding a wave of confidence.
His empty-netter sealed Thursday’s win, bringing him into a tie for the team lead in goals. After reconnecting with his billet family from his USHL days in Chicago, Coronato is ready to get back to business in Calgary.
“I think we’re definitely excited to get back in front of the fans,” Coronato said. “It’ll be nice to be home for a bit. Hopefully we can start the homestand on a good note.”
Scouting the Islanders
The Flames won’t have it easy Saturday, though. The Islanders are in the middle of a grueling seven-game Western road trip, but they’ve handled it well so far, going 2-1-1 through the first four stops.
Their most recent outing was a defensive clinic in Edmonton. Anthony Duclair scored the lone goal, while Ilya Sorokin turned aside all 35 shots he faced to post his league-leading fifth shutout of the season. It was vintage Sorokin - calm, composed, and capable of stealing games.
“We defended really well,” said Islanders head coach Patrick Roy. “Yes, they had some good looks, and when they had those, Ilya was outstanding.
He made some great saves for us, and our powerplay came through with a big one. That’s a big win for us.”
Sorokin’s elite play, combined with a stingy defensive structure, has helped propel the Islanders into second place in the Metropolitan Division. Their 130 goals against are the third-lowest total in the league - and that’s not just a stat, it’s an identity.
And it’s not just the veterans getting it done. Rookie blueliner Matthew Schaefer, the first-overall pick in last year’s draft, has been nothing short of sensational.
At just 18 years old, he’s logging 24 minutes a night and producing at a high clip - 13 goals and 30 points through 47 games. That puts him third among all rookies in scoring, and firmly in the Calder Trophy conversation.
Series Snapshot
This is the first of two meetings between the Flames and Islanders this season, with the rematch slated for March 14 on Long Island. Calgary swept the season series last year, including a 2-1 shootout win at home and a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory at UBS Arena. That second game saw Coronato pot a pair of goals in front of friends and family, with Nazem Kadri sealing the deal in OT.
Flames Flashback: Mooseheads Connection
There’s a bit of shared history between these two squads. Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar and Islanders forward Jonathan Drouin were teammates on the 2013 Memorial Cup-winning Halifax Mooseheads.
Drouin led the team with 105 points that year, while Weegar was second among Halifax blueliners in scoring. That squad also featured current Calgary Wranglers forward Martin Frk, along with several future NHLers who crossed paths during that tournament.
Short-Handed Surge
The Flames’ penalty kill hasn’t just been shutting teams down - it’s been flipping momentum. Mikael Backlund’s short-handed goal in Chicago was Calgary’s seventh of the season, tying them with the Kings for the league lead. That total already matches their entire short-handed output from last season.
Backlund joined Blake Coleman and Joel Farabee as the three Flames with shorties this year - Coleman and Farabee have three each, while Backlund’s was his 19th career short-handed goal. That ties him with former Islander Anders Kallur for third-most by a Swedish player in NHL history, trailing only Mats Sundin and Daniel Alfredsson.
And speaking of Coleman, he’s the last Flame to score more than three short-handed goals in a season - he had four in just 16 days back in December 2023.
Players to Watch
Flames - Mikael Backlund
Backlund’s been on a tear lately, posting back-to-back multi-point games and crossing the 30-point mark for the 11th straight season.
In Chicago, he was a difference-maker - assisting on Yegor Sharangovich’s powerplay goal, then scoring a highlight-reel shorty that stood as the game-winner. That goal was the 40th game-winner of his career, putting him in elite company among Flames greats like Jarome Iginla, Theoren Fleury, and Joe Nieuwendyk.
Islanders - Matthew Schaefer
The rookie defenseman has been a revelation.
Schaefer’s 13 goals are fourth among NHL defensemen, and his six powerplay tallies are tied for the league lead at his position. He’s logging big minutes, contributing at both ends of the ice, and playing with the poise of a veteran.
The Islanders haven’t had a Calder winner since Mathew Barzal in 2018, but Schaefer is making a strong case.
The Flames are back in familiar territory, and they’ve got a chance to build some serious momentum with this homestand. But they’ll need to bring the same tenacity and structure that earned them two points in Chicago - especially against a dialed-in Islanders squad that’s thriving behind elite goaltending and a breakout rookie star.
Buckle up. This one has all the makings of a statement game.