Good teams find a way to win.
And the Flames have done just that to start the season.
The Flames avoided a second straight loss with a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over the Hurricanes Saturday night, and now sit atop the Pacific Division with a 4-1 record.
It was another game that they fell behind in early but there was no quit. Nazem Kadri and Brett Ritchie scored in regulation while Tyler Toffoli tallied the overtime winner. Jacob Markstrom settled into a groove and was stellar in the third period, stopping 25 shots.
"The league is so much based on special teams when you look at it," head coach Darryl Sutter said after the game. "What's the difference between this game and last game? Last game they scored shorthanded and a powerplay goal. Tonight (Saturday) we scored a powerplay goal and the penalty-kill, those 10 guys we used for the four minutes and even the other parts of the game did a hell of a job.
"And then the goal that is the winner is three-on-three so it tells you what the game is about."
The Flames have another tough match-up against the Penguins tonight at the Scotiabank Saddledome for a 7 p.m. puck drop.
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With both teams flying so far, it very well could come down to a special teams battle.
"You can't overlook the fact that our special teams have been solid and a big reason why we are where we are," Blake Coleman said. "We have a lot off familiar faces on the kill from last year, and obviously the new guys coming have been big keys on the powerplay. Been great and that's why we are 4-1.
"So while 5-on-5 hasn't, maybe not been where we want it, a lot of the other things have been good and there are a lot of important parts to the game too. You look toward how teams win in the playoffs and special teams make or break that time of year."