The Flames Are Getting Their Spark Back!

The Calgary Flames are getting Devin Cooley back after a short injury absence. That's good news, but I think there's a little more to this return than simply having another goalie available. Cooley was part of something important in Calgary. He helped give the Flames a reason to believe again when their season was going nowhere.

Remember how things looked earlier in the season? The Flames were struggling, confidence was hard to find, and it was becoming difficult to see where the next win might come from. Then Cooley got his opportunity, and the Flames began to look like a different team.

Cooley won three straight starts, posting a 1.33 goals-against average and a .961 save percentage over that stretch. He wasn't just stopping pucks. He gave his teammates a chance to settle down, play with a little more confidence, and believe a good result was possible.

Related: Devin Cooley Has a Message for Flames Fans After His Injury

Cooley Brought More Than Saves to Calgary.

There's something about a goalie who looks comfortable in his own crease. His teammates notice it. They see the confidence, the energy, and the enthusiasm. They start believing that the save they need is going to be there when things get difficult.

That's what Cooley seemed to bring to Calgary. His play lifted the Flames, and his enthusiasm seemed to spread through the group. The team started finding ways to win, and a season that had begun so badly began to look a whole lot different.

The Flames' improvement can't be credited to one player. The whole lineup contributed, and the other goalies deserve their share of the credit. But Cooley's timing was important. He gave Calgary a spark when it badly needed one.

Now he's back after missing four games with a lower-body injury suffered against Edmonton on October 28. He was initially expected to be out week to week, so his return is welcome news.

The Flames Have Their Goalie Partnership Back.

Dustin Wolf remains an important part of Calgary's plans, and having both Wolf and Cooley available gives the Flames something they need over a long season: options and support in goal.

But I wouldn't overlook what Cooley brings beyond his place on the depth chart. Sometimes a player changes the feeling around a team without saying much at all. He just goes out, competes, makes saves, and gives everyone else a reason to keep pushing.

That's what Calgary got from Cooley during its turnaround. The Flames are getting a healthy goalie back, certainly. They may also be getting back a little of the energy and belief that helped get their season moving in the right direction.

And that might be the best news of all.

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