The 2025–26 season hasn’t gone to plan for the Calgary Flames. After a surprise 2024–25 season that saw them miss the playoffs by a single tiebreaker, there was some renewed optimism heading into this season. While it’s still early, the Flames have gotten off to a disastrous start. They currently sit 32nd in the NHL with just one win in five games.

Here are 10 notable stats from the Flames’ nightmare start to the season. Numbers are courtesy of NHL.com and Natural Stat Trick.

1. Last place in the NHL

Let’s start with the obvious. The Flames are currently rocking a .200 point percentage on the season with a 1–4 record. That’s good for the worst record across the entire NHL. Yes, the Flames are currently sitting 32nd. Sure, it’s only a week and a half into the season, but I don’t think anyone within the organization expected the Flames to be the worst team in the NHL in the middle of October.

2. Can’t get a save, can’t finish their chances

It’s not hard to see why the Flames are dead last in the NHL right now when you consider their PDO of .937 is currently the worst in the NHL. At 5v5, they currently rank third-worst for save percentage and seventh-worst for shooting percentage. It doesn’t matter who you are. If you aren’t getting saves at one end and can’t finish chances at the other, you’re not going to win a lot of hockey games. With that said, a lot of PDO is just pure dumb luck. Odds are the Flames’ luck will turn around at some point and they’ll start getting some more bounces and wins.

3. The worst offence in the NHL

This team can’t score. We knew the offence wasn’t going to be great before the puck even dropped for game one. I don’t think anyone predicted they’d be this bad. Through five games, the Flames are currently scoring just 1.8 goals per game, the worst rate in the NHL. Along with the New York Rangers, who sit at 1.83, the Flames are one of only two teams scoring under two goals per game. Across their five games, they’ve managed to put the puck in the net just nine times.

Bet like a pro
here with Bet99—Ontario’s go-to for elite odds and nonstop action.

And outside Ontario, Canadians bet better
here with Bet99—bringing top-tier odds and action from coast to coast.

4. The Flames can’t hit the net

One reason the Flames might be sitting with the worst goals per game rate in the NHL is the fact that they can’t hit the broad side of a barn right now. With 86 missed shots on the season, the Flames have missed the net more than every team in the league other than the Rangers, who have 87 misses. That’s an average of 17 missed shots a game. You’re not going to score a lot of goals if you can’t even force the goalie to make a save.

5. Swiss cheese at 5v5

With just six goals for at 5v5 but 14 against, the Flames currently hold the worst 5v5 goal differential in the NHL at -8. The next worst team is the Buffalo Sabers, who are at only -5. The Flames allowing 14 goals against at 5v5 in just five games—the most of any team in the league—is the main culprit here. A combination of bad defence and poor goaltending has led the Flames to hold the title as the worst 5v5 team in the league right now.

6. Soaking up a lot of shots

With 210 CA this season, the Flames have allowed the fourth-most shot attempts in the NHL. Needless to say, they’re not exactly playing sound defence. Despite playing some poor defence and bleeding chances, they’re doing a good job limiting shots at the last moment by blocking 77 shots in just five games. That total ranks tied for the third most across the NHL. Typically, more blocked shots isn’t a great sign, and that seems to be the case here.

7. Scoring first, but not finishing the job

Despite the fact that the Flames have scored the first goal in three of their five games—the second-best total in the NHL—they’ve closed out a grand total of zero of those games. They currently lead the NHL in losses when scoring first with three such cases. No other team has achieved the feat more than once this season. The Flames just seem to sit back as soon as they get a lead, and it’s costing them big time.

8. Joel Hanley’s tough start

After re-signing Joel Hanley this offseason, the veteran was expected to take on a big role in a weak Flames blue line after re-signing this offseason. To say his start has been less than ideal would be an understatement. Through five games, Hanley has played over 70 minutes at 5v5 and has yet to be on the ice for a single Flames goal.

On the flip side, he’s been on the ice for six goals against at 5v5. So far this season, there have been 77 players who have logged at least 70 minutes at 5v5. Hanley’s -6 GD at 5v5 is the worst among those 77 players. Simply put, the Flames need a whole lot more from the veteran defenceman.

Related