Game Day | Flames vs. Blackhawks – 07.11.25

Game Day | Flames vs. Blackhawks – 07.11.25

The Flames have been filling their opponent’s net. What’s led to the increased scoring? And when will top prospect Zayn Perk return to the lineup? Here to answer those questions and get you set for tonight’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks. I’m Derek Wills alongside Megan Mickelson. Mick, after going through a tough stretch where they scored nine goals in seven games. The Flames have scored 23 goals in seven games since. What’s led to the uptick in offense? Well, Ryan Huska told us this morning that the biggest difference is the chances that they were getting earlier in the season are now going in. So, they’re getting some bounces. Uh, and the second thing is that he sees that the group is going to the net a lot harder. Uh, Dave Lowry, when we talked to him in Philadelphia, talked about the group getting off the wall in the offensive zone, getting to the middle of the ice. Now, they’re going to the net harder as well. Another area which is interesting, the Flames are currently tied for eighth in rush goals in the NHL. An area you need to be careful with because you don’t want to open yourself up too much going the other way, but have been able to put the puck in the back of the net off the rush as well. Well, tonight Dustin Wolf will get another start, his 14th in 16 games to get the season going. Mick, I did the math. If this continues, he’ll play in 72 games this season. But with the way Devin Culie has played, uh, chances are he’ll start to get some more starts. But that’s the news in net for the Flames. And yes, Zayn Perk will return to the lineup for this game against the Blackhawks tonight. What do you want to see from the Flames 19-year-old defenseman and what have you been seeing from their franchise goalender? Well, Dustin Wolf since October the 20th, if you look at the analytics, he ranks in the top of the league for goalenders. And Ryan Huska said this morning the first four games of the season just wasn’t really playing like himself. He’s been much more competitive in the net. Um battling for pucks, seeing pucks through traffic. Uh but has just been he’s been playing more like himself and making the big saves that we’re used to seeing from Dustin Wolf. Uh for Zayn Perk, uh what he needs to do is just be confident in his play. Uh be assertive and not secondguessing his decisions when he has the puck. be so good offensively, his vision, his reads, just be confident in that and then continue to build his game from a defensive standpoint. Well, after celebrating Nazum Cadri’s 10,000th NHL game with a 5-1 win on Wednesday, Flames have started a winning streak and they have a chance to make it three in a row when they battle the Blackhawks tonight. What are going to be the three keys to victory in this one? Well, the first one is to have a strong start and that, you know, that bowed really well for them in the game on Wednesday. two goals in the first minute and 32 seconds, but you’re coming off of an emotional night, a really big win, and a high. Making sure you get off to a strong start in this one, just get your legs and your feet and your game back under you is going to be important. Uh the second one is they’re going to need to make sure that everybody is rolling tonight. The Chicago Blackhawks are tied for the most players with three plus points in the NHL. So, a lot of depth when it comes to production. The Flames are going to need all four lines 60 and their goalender rolling. And the last one is to get their power play up and running. It’s sitting at 4.5% at home right now. It’s struggled a little bit lately. We’re going to see two different units in the game tonight. So, going to need to see some offense from their power play. One thing to watch going into tonight’s game is the status of Flames defenseman Kevin Ball who did not take the morning scape with his teammates here at Scotia Bank Saddled Dome today. But we just talked to Ryan Huska and the Flames head coach said he’ll be a game time decision. If he can’t go, expect Yan Kusnet to slide into his spot on the Flames second pairing alongside Rasmus Anderson. It should be a good one. We’ve got Dustin Wolf on the Flames versus Connor Bernard and the Blackhawks. The Flames with a chance to stretch their winning streak to three before they hit the road for two. We’ll have the call for you on Sportsnet 960 the fan while John Abbott and Jason York will have the call for you on SportsNet. Enjoy the game everybody. [Music]

Meaghan Mikkelson and Derek Wills set up Friday’s matchup versus Chicago