The Calgary Flames at this point in the season are probably switching their focus towards gunning for the Presidents’ Trophy. The Tampa Bay Lightning are within reach and if things line up for the Flames, then there might be good reason to celebrate come April.
The Flames only played 11 games in January, given the All-Star break and their bye-week making their last game of the month on January 22nd. Out of a possible 33 star selections, the Flames were selected a whopping 22 times.
Going 9-1-1 in January, the Flames were oft led to victory by Johnny Gaudreau. He was selected as a star five times, which is just shy of being over half of all January games.
Three other Flames were selected as stars on multiple occasions. Mark Giordano, Mikael Backlund, and David Rittich were selected three times each.
Let’s take a look at what ensued throughout January for star selections.
Game 41: Flames @ Red Wings
First Star | Johnny Gaudreau | 1 G / 3 A / 4 SOG |
Second Star | Elias Lindholm | 1 G / 2 A / 3 SOG |
Third Star | Andreas Athanasiou | 1 G / 1 A / 4 SOG |
Game 42: Flames @ Bruins
First Star | Jake DeBrusk | 2 G / 0 A / 6 SOG |
Second Star | Johnny Gaudreau | 1 G / 1 A / 6 SOG |
Third Star | Brad Marchand | 2 G / 0 A / 4 SOG |
Game 43: Flames @ Flyers
First Star | T.J. Brodie | 1 G / 0 A / 1 SOG |
Second Star | Travis Konecny | 1 G / 0 A / 3 SOG |
Third Star | Johnny Gaudreau | 1 G / 0 A / 2 SOG |
Game 44: Flames @ Blackhawks
First Star | Johnny Gaudreau | 2 G / 0 A / 4 SOG |
Second Star | Patrick Kane | 1 G / 1 A / 3 SOG |
Third Star | Sean Monahan | 1 G / 1 A / 10 SOG |
Game 45: Flames vs. Avalanche
First Star | David Rittich | 35 SA / 0.914 SV% |
Second Star | Mark Giordano | 0 G / 3 A / 1 SOG |
Third Star | Nathan MacKinnon | 1 G / 0 A / 6 SOG |
Game 46: Flames vs. Panthers
First Star | Michael Frolik | 1 G / 2 A / 1 SOG |
Second Star | Mikael Backlund | 0 G / 1 A / 3 SOG |
Third Star | David Rittich | 27 SA / 0.889 SV% |
Game 47: Flames vs. Coyotes
First Star | Mark Giordano | 2 G / 1 A / 4 SOG |
Second Star | Matthew Tkachuk | 2 G / 0 A / 4 SOG |
Third Star | Mike Smith | 23 SA / 0.957 SV% |
Game 48: Flames vs. Sabres
First Star | Johnny Gaudreau | 1 G / 1 A / 4 SOG |
Second Star | Jack Eichel | 1 G / 1 A / 3 SOG |
Third Star | Rasmus Dahlin | 1 G / 0 A / 1 SOG |
Game 49: Flames vs. Red Wings
First Star | Sam Bennett | 2 G / 1 A / 2 SOG |
Second Star | Dylan Larkin | 2 G / 0 A / 8 SOG |
Third Star | Derek Ryan | 0 G / 2 A / 0 SOG |
Game 50: Flames @ Oilers
First Star | Mikael Backlund | 1 G / 1 A / 2 SOG |
Second Star | Jesse Puljujarvi | 0 G / 2 A / 0 SOG |
Third Star | Mark Giordano | 1 G / 2 A / 4 SOG |
Game 51: Flames vs. Hurricanes
First Star | Mikael Backlund | 1 G / 1 A / 2 SOG |
Second Star | David Rittich | 35 SA / 0.943 SV% |
Third Star | Petr Mrazek | 25 SA / 0.880 SV% |
Some interesting stats among the January stars:
- Gaudreau put up 11 points in the five times he was selected
- The single time Monahan was selected, he amassed one goal on 10 shots
- Rittich’s three selections saw him post a combined 0.915 SV%
- Backlund was selected as first star two games in a row right before the break
- Giordano and Brodie were the only Flames defencemen selected
There’s no doubt about it, the Flames were red-hot all through January. With any luck, the extended break gave them the rest they needed continue putting it in the win column through to the end of the season (which will be in June for the Flames, right?).
Related: October | November | December
Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images