Third periods emerging as the Flames’ weakness through four games

Gang, there’s an old saying that comes to mind following four games of the Calgary Flames’ 2025-26 season: you are what you repeatedly do.

Through four games, the Flames are a team whose performance has varied tremendously from period to period, with one consistent thread being subpar third periods.

On Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Flames let a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes slip away as they allowed three goals in the third period and lost by a 4-2 score.

“It’s much similar to the last three,” said Flames head coach Ryan Huska, speaking to the media post-game. “We’re just not playing complete games. So whether it’s courses of the third period or a portion of the second period where I thought we got away from what was giving us success earlier in the game, we changed it a bit, which I feel like allowed them to get some of their mojos on.”

Huska elaborated a bit on what was the difference between the Flames’ play early in the game and how they looked later on.

“So early in the game, we were doing a good job of putting pucks in and playing below the goal line, so we were harder on their back end,” said Huska. “And then we start slowing our pace down through the neutral zone, and I think you feed into a transition game that Vegas is very good at. So to me, it’s just not playing the complete game to the way we have to play it. That’s really the difference for me.”

Third periods, at a glance

(Chances via Natural Stat Trick, everything else via NHL Stats.)

Flames forward Blake Coleman reflected on allowing a strong start to go to waste against Vegas.

“It’s a lesson that probably shouldn’t have to be learned with this group,” said Coleman. “You know, we’ve got guys that have been there and know how to do it. And, you know, this one’s disappointing. But, you know, we’ve got a game tomorrow and it’s a quick turnaround. So, we’re going to flush that and try to replicate that first period for 60 minutes.”

There’s another saying that comes to mind four games in: you are what your record says you are. Through four games, the 1-3-0 Flames have yet to play a complete 60 minutes. While they’ve shown flashes of really strong play at times, the deficiencies in their game – especially in the third periods – have been glaring enough that their record has been fully earned.

It’s on them to earn a better one before the season starts to slip away.

The Flames are back in action on Wednesday night when they visit the Utah Mammoth.