Frustrated?
You bet they are.
In the midst of a six-game losing skid, and facing the reality that an off-the-rails October could put an early spike in their playoff aspirations, the Calgary Flames aren’t pretending everything is hunky-dory.
“We’re all a little frustrated, and I think we should be,” said right-winger Matt Coronato after Tuesday’s optional practice at the Saddledome. “If we’re not, I think that’s a problem because our record isn’t OK. So we should be frustrated, but I think we should use it in a positive way — come out and play even harder, play for each other and together, and use it to fuel us.”
The Flames haven’t lost seven in a row since November of 2022.
They’ll try to keep it that way Wednesday as they play host to the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs are off to a 5-2-0 start, a stark contrast to Calgary’s record of 1-6-0.
This slumping squad has been out-scored 27-12 on the season.
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“It’s been frustrating. Obviously, not the start we envisioned,” acknowledged veteran voice-of-reason Blake Coleman. “Things are definitely not coming easy right now. We’re having to work for everything we get, and that’s just the way it is. Teams go through stretches like this, all throughout the year. It just gets a little magnified with it being the first couple weeks of the season. That’s the way it goes, but every day is a new day. Nobody is going to sit there and feel sorry for us. We have to find a way in our room to turn things around, and do it quickly.
“Usually, it just takes an ugly one to get over the hump and guys start feeling a little better about their game or their scoring or whatever it may be, wherever they need to start contributing. Things can turn quick in this league. You rattle off four or five in a row the other way and the narrative and the conversation shifts.”