The Calgary Flames (28-21-8) were pegged as underdogs when they boarded the plane to Washington, DC, to face the Capitals, the NHL’s second-best team. The odds were even lower when head coach Ryan Huska named Dan Vladar their starter.
However, Vladar turned in one of his season’s best performances, and the Flames orchestrated one of the most complete first periods of the year en route to a 3-1 upset victory.
Although the Flames never doubted themselves, especially after a Huska speech fired them up in the dressing room, they went ahead 2-0 and didn’t let an Alex Ovechkin stop them from picking up one of the biggest wins in 2025.
After a night when the Flames fourth line picked up points in a gutsy win over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday, the boys were back on the scoresheet against the Capitals.
Calgary went up 1-0 when Martin Pospisil scored in the first period to snap a nine-game goalless streak. Considering how dominant Washington has been, it was unexpected to see the visitors go ahead in enemy territory, thanks to the passionate play of the fourth line over the past six periods.
Moreover, the Flames, who have had their fair share of struggles with secondary scoring, and the recent contributions from unlikely heroes are one reason for four points in the standings.
Unfortunately, social media can be a great place or the worst place to check news because of everyone’s comments. When news broke, hundreds of Flames fans wrote Dan Vladar off, projecting a Capitals win.
In one of the season’s happier moments, Vladar silenced the critics with a brilliant performance. He turned away 26 shots en route to a .963 SV%, his highest single-game total of the season, outside his two shutouts.
Despite giving up Ovechkin’s 883rd goal, Vladar threw himself before every other shot, making save after save, including a handful of big stops on the Capitals’ three power play opportunities.
Many thought Dustin Wolf, a potential Calder Trophy finalist, should have played, but Vladar deserved a chance to showcase that he can play against elite teams and get the job done. It was a pleasant surprise and a great moment for the pending free agent.
When Jonathan Huberdeau scored in the third period to restore the Flames’ two-goal advantage, the expression on his face as he embraced Nazem Kadri and the rest of his teammates is an image worth pasting on the walls at the Saddledome.
It was a huge moment for the club, which was on the verge of a significant upset to start its pivotal six-game road trip. Ultimately, the passionate play stemmed from a fiery speech Huska game before the opening face-off.
After a possible loss to the Sharks on Sunday, where the Flames played some ugly hockey, they appeared to be a different team on Tuesday, which began with an outstanding first period and then rode the momentum for the remainder of the game with a bend but don’t break mentality.
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