Counting down the best Flames fights of 2024

Alright, this was a weird sequence. Brayden Pachal threw a hit on Paul Cotter along the boards. At the same time, Lomberg was approaching, also intending to check the puck-carrier. Pachal’s hit knocked Cotter down and forward, into Lomberg’s path, and Lomberg fell onto Cotter in the confusion. It was an awkward sequence and not really predatory or dirty, but it ended up with Lomberg falling onto Cotter.

Bastian, having seen parts of this – notably Lomberg falling onto his prone teammate – took offence and decided to fight Lomberg. It… uh… didn’t go well for him. Not only did Bastian receive an instigator penalty on this sequence, but he suffered a facial injury and didn’t play again until Dec. 10.

#2: Blake Coleman vs. Mattias Janmark

Feb. 24, Flames at Edmonton Oilers (Rogers Place); 7:02 into second period

This was the third Battle of Alberta in 2023-24 and came on the heels of a pair of Flames losses to the Oilers – a disappointing performance in the Heritage Classic in late October and a closer loss at the Saddledome in January. The Flames went into Rogers Place and played a really smart, physical game.

Coleman had rocked Connor McDavid with a big hit about four minutes into the second period, and he and Janmark had taken penalties on a subsequent shift (Janmark for cross-checking and Coleman for embellishment). The duo seemingly came to an agreement to fight while in the penalty boxes serving their minors, and they stepped out and scrapped.

Wranglers fight of the year: Alex Gallant vs. Travis Howe

Feb. 10, Wranglers vs. San Diego Gulls (Scotiabank Saddledome); 6:29 into third period

Alex Gallant is a fourth-line forward for the Wranglers who’s on the club for his veteran presence and physicality.

In this game with San Diego, Gallant had drawn the ire of the Gulls for a hit he laid in the second period – he was levied a checking to the head minor on that play. By early in the third period, the Wranglers were trailing 5-2 and – either looking to create a spark or to answer the bell for his earlier hit – Gallant opted to scrap with Travis Howe.

#1: Ryan Lomberg vs. Mathieu Olivier

Nov. 29, Flames at Columbus Blue Jackets (Nationwide Arena); 19:37 into second period

This was the Flames’ first trip to Columbus since Johnny Gaudreau’s passing and the game took on an additional level of emotion as a result. It also ended up being a game with three fights. This was the third one.

Midway through the second period, Mathieu Olivier threw a big hit on Joel Hanley along the end boards in the Columbus zone. We can debate as to whether or not it was dirty or predatory – Olivier is listed at 6’1″ and 226 pounds, so everything physical he does looks a little terrifying – but the hit resulted in Hanley leaving the ice for evaluation. Pospisil took offence with Olivier’s hit on Hanley and the fight didn’t go well for Pospisil, to the point where Brayden Pachal stepped in to protect Pospisil when it looked like the linesman wasn’t going to. (We were surprised Pachal only received a roughing minor on that sequence.)

Anyway, late in the period, Lomberg stepped up to Olivier – either to stand up for Hanley or Pospisil or both – and the duo had a pretty good scrap.

Which Flames fight in 2024 was your favourite?