Parekh aims to improve Calgary Flames struggling power play

In the last few seasons, the Calgary Flames’ power play has been in rough shape.

With the continued rebuild underway in Calgary, more and more key veterans and power play talents have been shipped off to playoff contenders.

Heading into the 2026–27 season, Flames’ head coach Ryan Huska has put an emphasis on improving the clubs lacklustre power play production, and putting more goals in the back of the net.

“We wanna score more this year, which is our expectation. This is gonna have to be priority for us, There’s gotta be someone there and I don’t care if it’s Matty Coronato or if it’s Zar (Connor Zary) or if it’s Klapper (Adam Klapka), it doesn’t matter.

We need to have presence at the front of the net.” – Ryan Huska

Eight games into the regular season, Calgary’s hockey club is sitting at a power play percentage of 21.1%. It’s a big step up from 2025–26’s league-worst 16.2% power play numbers.

Leading the way on the Flame’s power play is Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost, Matvei Gridin, Matt Coronato and Zayne Parekh.

Parekh was asked about the team’s recent power play success on Sunday night. That night, they had a beautiful goal on the man advantage in the Flame’s 3–2 victory over the Stanley Cup Champion, Carolina Hurricanes.

“Yeah. Um, you know, I thought we moved it around really well on that power play, too. Um, but Joel just made a really nice play to me, and two guys slid, and I saw Morgan back door and, um, you know, luckily got it through.

I think we’re just happy to score on the power play. Well, I think last year, you know, um, I don’t know what we ran at, but it wasn’t great. And, um, you know, we came in this year with the mindset of we want to be better on the power play and be difference-makers. So, you know, it’s nice to see one go in” – Zayne Parekh

Flames’ bench boss Ryan Huska was impressed with the work put in on the power play, stating;

“We need the power play to score. We’re a team that doesn’t find the back of the net all that easily.

Right now, we’re getting some chances and we’re getting some looks, but when your power play is dangerous, like I felt like it was on that occasion in particular—and this year they’ve made some nice plays on it—they are the guys that we expect to be the difference-makers for us in close games, and they were that tonight.” – Ryan Huska

The Flames will look to continue finding the back of the net on the man advantage. Their next opportunity comes this Thursday when they welcome the visiting Minnesota Wild to the Saddledome.