January 25, 2025; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Calgary Flames center Clark Bishop (61) smiles after scoring against the Minnesota Wild in the third period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images The Calgary Flames started their current winning streak with a road win over the Winnipeg Jets.
The Flames need to duplicate that feat to continue their streak, wrapping up a quick two-game stay in Winnipeg on Sunday.
Thanks to their 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, the Flames are riding a three-game spree that has pulled them three points back of the Los Angeles Kings for third place in the Pacific Division.
“We played pretty well, 58 minutes was pretty good,” defenseman Rasmus Andersson said of his team’s win over the Wild. “Obviously a bit loose at the end, but overall pretty happy with our game. Two big points.”
The Flames reach Winnipeg with a resurgence of confidence. They are also playing with a more balanced attack of late.
Martin Pospisil scored for the first time in 26 games and Clark Bishop scored in the NHL for the first time since December 7, 2018.
“It means a lot. Anytime you can score and help the team win, it’s a good feeling,” said Bishop, who skated in his second NHL game this season. “To come out on top, that’s even better.”
Also, Andrei Kuzmenko — who snapped a 28-game skid the last time the Flames were in Winnipeg — is coming off a two-goal game against the Wild. Kuzmenko, who scored 39 goals as a rookie with Vancouver in 2022-23, doubled his goal total for the season to four.
“He moved his feet, and when he moves his feet, he’s around the puck,” coach Ryan Huska said of Kuzmenko. “And when he’s around the puck, he’s very strong on it.”
The Western Conference-leading Jets are riding a strong wave or their own.
Winnipeg is 6-2-1 in its last nine games after a 5-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club on Friday,
The Utah win mirrored a story for the Flames and featured a struggling player snapping a slump in a big way, with Cole Perfetti scoring his first career hat trick. He entered the game without a goal in 14 games.
“Just trying to focus on the input, on the little things, on doing every little detail the best I can, and then the play will unfold for you,” Perfetti said. “And when it’s your night, (it) kind of just bounces your way. Haven’t had those bounces lately, but just trying to be consistent with my game. And you get rewarded eventually.”
“It’s great, because you see there’s growth,” Jets coach Scott Arniel said of Perfetti. “When guys buy into what you preach and he recognizes, doesn’t get further away from the net but stays close … that’s how you have a winning hockey club.”
A winning club that will be looking for revenge against the Flames in their third and final meeting of the season. Calgary picked up a 3-1 win in Winnipeg just over a week ago; The Jets won the first game 5–3 on October 26.
“I thought (Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf) saw a lot of what was coming at him,” Arniel said of the Jan. 18 loss. “We can do a better job of screening him and taking away his vision and that can help us get those numbers up.”
–Field Level Media
