Resuming hockey after the all-star break this season brought back shades of the last, bringing back haunting memories where things seemed to slip for the 2017-18 Calgary Flames. Despite a questionable start to February, the 2018-19 Flames shook off their demons and got back on track. They finished the month still first in the Western Conference, and they aren’t even playing at their best.

A total of 13 games were played in the short month of February; making for a busy schedule that included two separate east coast road trips. The Flames went 8-3-2, which included a seven-game win streak to close out the month.

Of a possible 39 star selections, the Flames earned 22 of them. Mikael Backlund was dialed in during the win streak, leading the Flames over the month with two first star selections, as well as third.

Let’s see which performances stood out during Flames games over the past month.

Game 52: Flames @ Capitals

First Star Evgeny Kuznetsov 1 G / 1 A / 6 SOG Second Star Dmitrij Jaskin 1 G / 0 A / 4 SOG Third Star Elias Lindholm 1 G / 0 A / 3 SOG

Game 53: Flames @ Hurricanes

First Star David Rittich 37 SA / 0.919 SV% Second Star Teuvo Teravainen 1 G / 1 A / 5 SOG Third Star Derek Ryan 1 G / 1 A / 2 SOG

Game 54: Flames vs Sharks

First Star Evander Kane 2 G / 1 A / 8 SOG Second Star Martin Jones 38 SA / 0.947 SV% Third Star Tomas Hertl 2 G / 1 A / 2 SOG

Game 55: Flames @ Canucks

First Star Jacob Markstrom 47 SA / 0.936 SV% Second Star Johnny Gaudreau 0 G / 1 A / 7 SOG Third Star Elias Pettersson 1 G / 0 A / 4 SOG

Game 56: Flames @ Lightning

First Star Nikita Kucherov 1 G / 3 A / 3 SOG Second Star Brayden Point 1 G / 2 A / 2 SOG Third Star Steven Stamkos 1 G / 1 A / 2 SOG

Game 57: Flames @ Panthers

First Star James Reimer 43 SA / 0.953 SV% Second Star Vincent Trocheck 0 G / 1 A / 2 SOG Third Star Mike Hoffman 1 G / 1 A / 1 SOG

Game 58: Flames @ Penguins

First Star Michael Frolik 1 G / 0 A / 5 SOG Second Star Evgeni Malkin 2 G / 1 A / 5 SOG Third Star Derek Ryan 0 G / 3 A / 3 SOG

Game 59: Flames vs Coyotes

First Star Mark Giordano 1 G / 1 A / 4 SOG Second Star Mike Smith 29 SA / 0.931 SV% Third Star Rasmus Andersson 0 G / 2 A / 1 SOG

Game 60: Flames vs Islanders

First Star Mikael Backlund 1 G / 1 A / 3 SOG Second Star Travis Hamonic 1 G / 0 A / 3 SOG Third Star Johnny Gaudreau 1 G / 0 A / 7 SOG

Game 61: Flames vs Ducks

First Star Andrew Mangiapane 1 G / 0 A / 3 SOG Second Star T.J. Brodie 1 G / 1 A / 2 SOG Third Star Mikael Backlund 0 G / 1 A / 6 SOG

Game 62: Flames @ Senators

First Star Austin Czarnik 1 G / 0 A / 1 SOG Second Star Brady Tkachuk 1 G / 0 A / 3 SOG Third Star Matthew Tkachuk 0 G / 0 A / 4 SOG

Game 63: Flames @ Islanders

First Star Mikael Backlund 1 G / 0 A / 6 SOG Second Star Mike Smith 27 SA / 0.963 SV% Third Star Rasmus Andersson 1 G / 0 A / 1 SOG

Game 62: Flames @ Devils

First Star Johnny Gaudreau 0 G / 2 A / 1 SOG Second Star Mackenzie Blackwood 35 SA / 0.943 SV% Third Star Mark Giordano 1 G / 0 A / 2 SOG

Some standout performances among the February stars:

No Flames selected as a star had a multi-goal performance

Derek Ryan’s been very effective, his best performance a three-assist night against the Penguins

David Rittich was a first star against the Hurricanes, Mike Smith was a second star against both the Coyotes and Islanders

Matthew Tkachuk was selected as a third star against the Senators in a game where he put up zero points; though he did have a goal called off

Flames depth players like Austin Czarnik and Andrew Mangiapane have stood out, scoring very important goals in close games

The Flames definitely stumbled out of the all-star break, but to see them turn it all around and finish on a season-high winning streak put a lot worries to rest. They’ll look to lock up the Western Conference as soon as they can, but they have some very good teams hot on their trails.

Related: October | November | December | January

Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images