Three takeaways as Flames defeat Ducks, earn first win of season

Just like that, the Calgary Flames have earned a little reprieve from the dark clouds that were gathering around them.

Facing the Anaheim Ducks for the second time in a row, the Flames put in — by far — their best performance of the 2026-27 NHL season on Tuesday night and ended the winless run that threatened to spiral out of control.

The Flames played a solid 60 minutes and fully deserved the two points that came with their 4-2 victory at Honda Center.

They scored four goals in a game for the first time this campaign while allowing fewer than four for the first time, as well. Their goaltending was solid, they got goals from up-and-down the lineup and matched the Ducks’ physicality from the start.

Here are three takeaways from Tuesday’s big win in Anaheim:

The Calgary Wranglers can probably put their Aydar Suniev jerseys in the bin.

He’s not going back to the AHL any time soon.

After scoring his first NHL goal in Saturday’s loss to the Ducks at the Saddledome, the 21-year-old picked up his second on the game-tying goal midway through the second period and then recorded an assist on Martin Pospisil’s game-winner.

That’s three points in three games for the third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. He’s provided an injection of offence that the Flames have desperately needed and his wicked shot should make him a power-play staple, too.

We’ve known for a while that Suniev had the potential to be a big part of the Flames’ future, but he’s already proving this season that he can be an important piece right now.

There are a lot of guys who deserve to get talked about after the gutsy performance the Flames put together against the Ducks.

We could talk about the burst of speed that Pospisil scored on the game-winner or how Yegor Sharangovich was rightfully rewarded for his recent efforts with the empty-netter. Matt Coronato deserves a mention, too, for the way he’s dragging the team into the fight.

But Adam Klapka needs to get a little extra recognition. Not only did he score the opening goal, his second of the season after only potting six all last year, he also dropped the gloves with Jeff Malott late in the second period.

The 6-foot-8 behemoth seems much more comfortable with the physical side of the game and has shown flashes of the skill we all know he has in his arsenal.

He’s been one of the bright spots for the Flames this season.

Dustin Wolf has not had the greatest start to the season. 

But after rotating between Wolf and Devin Cooley for the first four games of 2026-27, Wolf got his second straight start on Tuesday and put in his best performance of this young campaign.

The 25-year-old netminder turned away 23-of-25 shots in a performance that should restore confidence in his ability to give the Flames a shot at winning games.

With matchups against the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes up next on the docket, the team needs Wolf as his best.

Tuesday suggested he might be getting back there.