_NicoElNino_Alamy.png?#)
Coleman’s measured approach helping Flames keep playoff drive alive
With the Flames clinging to their playoff lives, everything they do down the stretch is magnified. Which is why Blake Coleman’s measured approach and selfless play has been so helpful.
CALGARY – In the final minute of a game in which Blake Coleman had two goals and a whopping 15 shot attempts, Frank Vatrano did the only thing he could to stop the Flames veteran:
He grabbed his stick and hucked it.
“That was a 10-out-of-10 javelin,” chuckled Coleman, whose late bid for a hat trick was derailed by the heaving infraction.
“Strange play. Still tried to get one though, was close.”
/* if ( "1" == true && 'undefined' !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) { var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}}; adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6371017488112&cmsid=384', so, permalink); } else { adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6371017488112&cmsid=384"; } */ adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6371017488112&cmsid=384"; var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes("cust_params"); var queryString=''; if(adServerUrl_result){ var gettheDUFI = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem("theRED_loc");
if(gettheDUFI){ queryString += "dufiid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; queryString += "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; var ppid = "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; }
var DUFI_IP = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem("DUFI_IP");
if(DUFI_IP){ queryString += "dufiip=" + DUFI_IP + '&'; }
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + 'cust_params=' + encodeURIComponent(queryString) ); }
$el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") );
$( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-131636" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6371017488112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", adserverurl: adServerUrl, section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/6371017488112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/dog-with-a-bone-flames-coleman-on-pushing-for-post-season-berth/" }); });
In fact, he almost kicked one in.
“I’m sure they would have called it back,” he laughed, referring to the Flames’ video replay misfortune that contributed to their only two regulation losses in their last nine games (6-2-1).
“They don’t like when we get those.”
Following a series of comebacks and controversies that have dotted their dogged pursuit of a playoff spot, Thursday’s breezy 4-1 win over the Ducks was a welcome respite.
A Nazem Kadri goal 16 seconds in set the table for a game in which Coleman’s power play and short-handed goals cinched the team’s 33rd straight win when scoring four goals or more.
/* if ( "1" == true && 'undefined' !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) { var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}}; adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6371011170112&cmsid=384', so, permalink); } else { adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6371011170112&cmsid=384"; } */ adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6371011170112&cmsid=384"; var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes("cust_params"); var queryString=''; if(adServerUrl_result){ var gettheDUFI = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem("theRED_loc");
if(gettheDUFI){ queryString += "dufiid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; queryString += "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; var ppid = "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; }
var DUFI_IP = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem("DUFI_IP");
if(DUFI_IP){ queryString += "dufiip=" + DUFI_IP + '&'; }
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + 'cust_params=' + encodeURIComponent(queryString) ); }
$el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") );
$( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-734699" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6371011170112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", adserverurl: adServerUrl, section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/6371011170112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/flames-kadri-lights-the-lamp-16-seconds-in-with-snipe-past-ducks-gibson/" }); });
More importantly, it kept their playoff drive alive, moving them five points behind Minnesota with a game in hand and a head-to-head matchup with the Wild here next Friday.
Under the heading of Flames bad breaks, the Blues won their 11th straight Thursday, essentially putting the league’s hottest team out of Calgary’s reach.
Coach Ryan Huska said he challenged the veterans before the game to step up, and plenty of the lads responded.
Coleman’s 15th of the season gave him half the amount he had last year, but most in the room would argue he’s been twice as valuable, given his role in the leadership group.
It’s that group that set the standard for the team’s unexpected success and helped his club navigate through a minefield of obstacles of late to play their best hockey of the season.
“In my opinion, we still have a good chance if we put ourselves in that situation, go 7-1 or 6-2 at the worst,” said Coleman before the game.
“We’ve been pretty dialled in since the break. We’ve played some good hockey and had a few calls that haven’t gone our way, and bounces that haven’t gone our way, or maybe we’re sitting in a little different picture.
“We still believe and we’re still going to fight to the end. That’s just kind of the group we have. Hopefully, over the last (seven) games, those calls will start to shift in our favour.”
On Thursday, they made their own breaks, outshooting the Ducks 35-27, playing diligently with the lead and setting the stage for a big game Saturday when Vegas comes calling.
And you can bet Coleman will be leading the way once again, with a simple brand that has inspired a handful of youngsters like Adam Klapka, who try to follow his lead.
“He’s kind of like an inspiration for me because he started playing in the NHL at 25 – that’s something unbelievable,” said the towering, 24-year-old rookie, who assisted on Kevin Rooney’s goal and made several dangles that got the crowd and bench going.
“When you put the hard work in you can stay a while in the NHL. I’m happy I can learn from him every day.”
Coleman’s classic quote about Klapka’s increasing confidence was worth repeating:
“It’s pretty obvious when he’s dancing, the guys get pretty excited when he’s doing backhand toeys,” he beamed.
“Everything he does is magnified with that big frame.”
-
-
NHL on Sportsnet
Livestream Hockey Night in Canada, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey, the Oilers, Flames, Canucks, out-of-market matchups, the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the NHL Draft.
Everything the Flames do down the stretch is magnified too, which is why Coleman’s measured approach and selfless play has been so helpful.
“Blake had more pep in his step than he’s had in a little while, so if Adam looks at him and he tries to model his game after Blake – just a much bigger size of it – that’s a really good thing for us,” said Huska.
“There’s so many other things that people don’t see with what Blake brings to the table. On the ice, you can see the shot blocks, the hits, and he goes to the net hard. He doesn’t ever cheat the game.
“But he’s also a really important person in our room, helping people along like Adam. Younger players don’t look to older players if they’re not character players or someone who can be counted on or trusted, and Blake is most definitely that for us.”
