On October 1st, 2026, the Flames will have their final home opener in the Saddledome era. Since 1983, the Saddledome has hosted the Flames, and we’re entering the final stretch. As of October 2027, the Flames will be playing out of Scotia Place, making the game against the Seattle Kraken an emotional occasion.
Despite being one of the closest teams geographically, the Kraken had yet to be the Flames’ home opener opponent. They will be the 16th different team to do so, and the last to do so at this iconic arena.
So with the sun setting on the Saddledome, let’s look at the history of the Calgary Flames’ home openers.
A slow, but goal-filled start
The Flames’ first-ever home opener at the Saddledome was against the Edmonton Oilers. Lanny McDonald scored the first goal scored by the Flames at the Saddledome, but it couldn’t stop a 4–3 defeat.
The first win, two years later, was emphatic: playing their neighbours from Manitoba, the Flames beat the Jets 8–3. A few years later, Detroit were the visitors, but left the Saddledome empty-handed as the Flames put ten past them. Two years later, a further nine were put into the net of the Oilers.
From their first ten home openers, the Flames won four and lost six (two via overtime).
Overtime woes for the Flames, but reasonable shutouts
The Flames have not had success in opening night games that have gone to overtime. The last time it happened was a 3–2 loss to the Ducks in 2021–22.
In the late 2000s, the Flames also suffered overtime heartbreak in three out of four years. 2005–26 began with an overtime loss to the Stars, and both 2007–8 and 2008–9 saw defeats to the Canucks under similar circumstances.
It has, however, been a relatively successful hunt for shutouts by the Flames, securing four, whilst only losing out once.
Recent successful run
Despite the Flames having tough seasons recently, the home opener has been strong for a few years now. After losing 5–3 to the Oilers to start 2016–17, the Flames won the next four, and have only lost one in regulation since.
That defeat came last season against St Louis, which was the first time since the Ducks loss mentioned earlier that the Flames hadn’t taken two points.
The most impressive home opener was arguably that of 2022–23, when the Avs rolled into town. The Stanley Cup champions were the hot favourites against a much-changed Flames side, but left with a 5–3 defeat instead.
Those pesky Canucks
The Canucks became very familiar with the journey to Calgary in October during the late 2000s and 2010s.
The first overtime loss I mentioned earlier came in 2007–8, and that was the first of nine home-opener meetings in fourteen years between the two teams. Five of the first six of those meetings went Vancouver’s way, with just 2009–10 starting with a 5–3 Flames win.
More recent meetings were more fortuitous for the Flames, though, winning three straight home-openers against the Canucks between 2018–19 and 2020–21, a 7–4 and back-to-back 3–0 wins.
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