Putting the Flames’ tough start into historical context

The Calgary Flames are making history to start the 2026-27 season, but probably not the type of history they wanted to be making.

Through five games, the Flames are the only National Hockey League club yet to register a standings points. Along with Los Angeles and Philadelphia, they’re one of three teams that have yet to register a victory. (The Kings and Flyers both have a pair of extra-time losses, though.)

Saturday’s setback was the Flames’ fifth game and fifth regulation loss. Their 0-5-0 record marks the very first time in franchise history that they haven’t registered a standings point over their first five outings of a season.

Their previous worst starts were in 1975-76 and 2025-26 – yes, last season – when the Flames started the season at 1-4-0. They also began the 1995-96 season with an ugly record, going 0-2-3, the only other time they’ve gone winless through five or more games, but at least in those cases they managed three ties.

In 1975-76, the Atlanta Flames began the season going 0-4-0, losing to the California Golden Seals, the New York Rangers (twice) and the New York Islanders. They broke their cold streak with a 5-3 road win over the Kansas City Scouts in the fifth game of that season, with goals from Tim Ecclestone, Ed Kea, Pat Quinn, Curt Bennett and Larry Carriere.

Despite their ugly start, Atlanta went to make the post-season in 1975-76, finishing the year with a respectable 35-33-12 record. They were swept in two games by Los Angeles in the preliminary round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

In 2025-26, the Flames won the opening game of the season in Edmonton in a shootout, then didn’t win again until their 10th game of the season, a 5-1 home win over the Rangers. That victory gave the Flames a 2-7-1 record and left them behind the eight-ball for the remainder of the season, solidifying some pretty significant roster decisions by Craig Conroy that led to the departures via trade of Rasmus Andersson, Nazem Kadri and MacKenzie Weegar later that season.

For the curious, the latest the Flames have ever registered their first win was 1995-96: they didn’t win until their 11th game, going 1-7-3. Shockingly, the Flames recovered from their awful start and qualified for the playoffs that season… but they were swept by Chicago in four games, despite the efforts of a debuting Jarome Iginla.

Through five games in 2026-27, the Flames have been out-scored 27-8 over five losses. For comparison’s sake: in 1995-96, the Flames were out-scored 18-13 in two losses and three ties.

The Flames will attempt to halt their skid, and stop making the wrong type of history, when they visit the Ducks on Tuesday night.

PRESENTED BY DFO CALGARY GEAR