The Calgary Flames are trying to steady themselves early in the 2026-27 season, and this week gives them a clean chance to do it. After back-to-back divisional losses to the Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks, the first full week of October brings a three-game slate that could help calm things down fast.
The biggest issue so far has been what happens when games tighten up late. In Saturday night’s road loss to Vancouver, Calgary grabbed the lead on Matt Coronato’s power-play goal, then watched the game slip away as the Canucks scored four straight in the final 20 minutes.
That third-period fade has become the main problem area. The Flames have struggled to cleanly move the puck out of their own end when opponents turn up the pressure, and that has led to long defensive shifts and broken coverage.
Young defenseman Zayne Parekh has still been part of the club’s transition offense, but the overall standard has to rise across all four lines if Calgary wants to close out games.
That falls directly on Ryan Huska’s group this week, with neutral-zone structure sitting near the top of the to-do list. If the Flames can stop getting trapped in their own end, they give themselves a much better shot at playing the kind of game they want.
Calgary is also dealing with the absence of Jonathan Huberdeau, who remains on injured reserve with a hip issue. Losing him takes away a key playmaker on the left side and forces the coaching staff to shuffle the top nine.
In his place, Samuel Honzek and Matvei Gridin have been asked to take on more top-six responsibility. The power play has shown a little life, but at five-on-five the offense has been less reliable without Huberdeau’s passing ability.
A mid-month evaluation window is the current target for his return.
The schedule offers a little bit of everything. It starts with a rematch in Seattle, where Calgary gets another shot at the Kraken after that opening-night loss.
After that comes a home date with the Colorado Avalanche, a team that will test every crack in Calgary’s defensive game. The week ends against the Anaheim Ducks, giving the Flames a chance to use home ice and put together a full 60 minutes.
Flames upcoming schedule:
Sun, Oct. 4 at Seattle Kraken - Climate Pledge Arena - 8:00 PM
Thu, Oct. 8 vs. Colorado Avalanche - Scotiabank Saddledome - 9:00 PM
Sat, Oct. 10 vs. Anaheim Ducks - Scotiabank Saddledome - 10:00 PM
In Other News...
Kraken Let Another Winnable Night In Edmonton Slip Away
The Kraken had a chance to leave Edmonton with a result after Bobby McMann dragged them level in the second period and Philipp Grubauer kept them in it with 22 saves, including several important stops while killing penalties. For stretches, Seattle did enough to make Rogers Place feel winnable, even against a high-end Oilers team that can punish small openings.
But the night tilted late in the third, and the margin for error vanished in a hurry. Seattle could not find the response after Edmonton seized control again, turning what had been a competitive road game into another reminder that the Kraken are still trying to piece together the kind of finish that turns close nights into points. [Read more 🡒]
Vince Dunn Landed On A Rare List In Kraken's Opener
Opening night against Calgary gave Vince Dunn another early-season spotlight, even if it came with a small twist. The Kraken defenseman scored Seattles second goal and added two assists in a 6-1 win, reinforcing how central he remains to the blue line whenever the games start to matter.
He also came close to a piece of NHL history that would have stood out even more than the box score, since he nearly became the only defenseman to open three straight seasons by scoring first for his team. Instead, Seattle got its first goal from another skater just before Dunn struck, and the moment now sits as one more reminder that the Krakens opener already had a little bit of everything going. [Read more 🡒]
Kraken Hit A Familiar Wall In Edmonton Yet Again
The Kraken ran into a familiar problem in Edmonton again, falling 3-1 to the Oilers in a game that tilted in the home sides favor as the night wore on. Connor McDavid had his usual impact with a goal and an assist, Owen Michaels also scored, and Devon Levi stopped 19 shots to give Edmonton the win, while Bobby McMann supplied Seattles lone goal and Philipp Grubauer finished with 22 saves in defeat.
Seattle kept it close for much of the night, but the margin between these teams again showed up in the final stretch. McDavids latest strong outing continued an early-season surge, and Leon Draisaitl was once more right there at the center of the outcome, as the Oilers found a way to close when the Kraken could not. [Read more 🡒]