The Daily: Monahan Thrives with Habs, Flames Get Cookin’ at Home

Despite the Calgary Flames’ early success this season, you can’t help but peek at what the former members of this franchise are doing in their new homes. Whether you’re rooting for them to succeed or fail, you know you’re secretly watching. Meanwhile, in Calgary, the team has played a pair of games and come away with wins in both. Against really strong opponents.

Were they games flawless? Far from it. But you wouldn’t have believed me if I told you a few weeks ago the Flames would come out of contests against the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers with regulation wins in both. And scored nine times.

Calgary Flames talk

People are still talking about Dan Vladar after the win in Edmonton. The goaltender switch worked well but it will be interesting to see how Jacob Markstrom rebounds from having to sit and watch someone else beat the Oilers.

The Flames have eight straight games at home and can make some real headway into establishing an identity at the Saddledome. They can also build a cushion in the race to defend the Pacific Division title.

With no word on Oliver Kylington‘s potential return, veteran Michael Stone is turning some heads in his place. Stone scored a personal best three points in just over half a period of hockey in Edmonton.

Former Florida Panthers blueliner Keith Yandle has high praise for Jonathan Huberdeau and “Scoops” MacKenzie Weegar. Yandle thinks the Calgary Flames have the best shot at bringing the Stanley Cup back to Canada.

The Canadian team with the best chance of winning the Stanley Cup this season?

Keith Yandle's going with the @NHLFlames. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/KSVpgSA4Zu

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 17, 2022

How the former Flames are faring

It wasn’t going to happen here after multiple seasons spent injured with the Calgary Flames. But Sean Monahan finds himself on the Montreal Canadiens’ top line.

Matthew Tkachuk has already made an impression taking his Friendship Tour to new places with the Florida Panthers.

Can’t find any recent articles on Johnny Gaudreau, who lost stud linemate Patrik Laine in the season opener. But maybe Gaudreau prefers not to have to see his name in the papers every day anyway. For the record, he has a goal and assist in three games so far. But no wins.

National Hockey Now, NHL News, Trade Rumours, and Notes

NYI: The New York Islanders are looking to up their offensive output, and Lane Lambert has a plan.

BOS: While David Renouf’s new teammates and Boston Bruins fans may not be familiar with him, head coach Jim Montgomery remembers him well.

PGH: Montreal-native P.O. Joseph speaks on the “rite of passage” moment of playing his first game at the Bell Centre with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

PHI: Is the Philadelphia Flyers’ 2-0 start a mirage or a product of playing two weak opponents? We’re about to find out.

WSH: There was a notable absence at the Washington Capitals morning skate, as Evgeny Kuznetsov was missing.

FLA: The Florida Panthers are only two games into their season and while the statistics may not reflect it, their power play has been pretty good so far.

DET: Top-line winger Tyler Bertuzzi will be out four to six weeks with what the Detroit Red Wings are calling an upper-body injury.

VGK: The story of Paul Cotter has been a fun one early on in the season for the Calgary Flames’ Pacific Division opponent Vegas Golden Knights.

SJS: The San Jose Sharks have now lost four in a row, including an embarrassing 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Are the Sharks actually just plain bad?

DAL: The Dallas Stars look like a team transformed under Peter DeBoer, and here’s why.