The Calgary Flames at this point in the season are probably switching their focus towards gunning for the Presidents’ Trophy. The Tampa Bay Lightning are within reach and if things line up for the Flames, then there might be good reason to celebrate come April.



The Flames only played 11 games in January, given the All-Star break and their bye-week making their last game of the month on January 22nd. Out of a possible 33 star selections, the Flames were selected a whopping 22 times.

Going 9-1-1 in January, the Flames were oft led to victory by Johnny Gaudreau. He was selected as a star five times, which is just shy of being over half of all January games.

Three other Flames were selected as stars on multiple occasions. Mark Giordano, Mikael Backlund, and David Rittich were selected three times each.

Let’s take a look at what ensued throughout January for star selections.

Game 41: Flames @ Red Wings

First Star Johnny Gaudreau 1 G / 3 A / 4 SOG Second Star Elias Lindholm 1 G / 2 A / 3 SOG Third Star Andreas Athanasiou 1 G / 1 A / 4 SOG

Game 42: Flames @ Bruins

First Star Jake DeBrusk 2 G / 0 A / 6 SOG Second Star Johnny Gaudreau 1 G / 1 A / 6 SOG Third Star Brad Marchand 2 G / 0 A / 4 SOG

Game 43: Flames @ Flyers

First Star T.J. Brodie 1 G / 0 A / 1 SOG Second Star Travis Konecny 1 G / 0 A / 3 SOG Third Star Johnny Gaudreau 1 G / 0 A / 2 SOG

Game 44: Flames @ Blackhawks

First Star Johnny Gaudreau 2 G / 0 A / 4 SOG Second Star Patrick Kane 1 G / 1 A / 3 SOG Third Star Sean Monahan 1 G / 1 A / 10 SOG

Game 45: Flames vs. Avalanche

First Star David Rittich 35 SA / 0.914 SV% Second Star Mark Giordano 0 G / 3 A / 1 SOG Third Star Nathan MacKinnon 1 G / 0 A / 6 SOG

Game 46: Flames vs. Panthers

First Star Michael Frolik 1 G / 2 A / 1 SOG Second Star Mikael Backlund 0 G / 1 A / 3 SOG Third Star David Rittich 27 SA / 0.889 SV%

Game 47: Flames vs. Coyotes

First Star Mark Giordano 2 G / 1 A / 4 SOG Second Star Matthew Tkachuk 2 G / 0 A / 4 SOG Third Star Mike Smith 23 SA / 0.957 SV%

Game 48: Flames vs. Sabres

First Star Johnny Gaudreau 1 G / 1 A / 4 SOG Second Star Jack Eichel 1 G / 1 A / 3 SOG Third Star Rasmus Dahlin 1 G / 0 A / 1 SOG

Game 49: Flames vs. Red Wings

First Star Sam Bennett 2 G / 1 A / 2 SOG Second Star Dylan Larkin 2 G / 0 A / 8 SOG Third Star Derek Ryan 0 G / 2 A / 0 SOG

Game 50: Flames @ Oilers

First Star Mikael Backlund 1 G / 1 A / 2 SOG Second Star Jesse Puljujarvi 0 G / 2 A / 0 SOG Third Star Mark Giordano 1 G / 2 A / 4 SOG

Game 51: Flames vs. Hurricanes

First Star Mikael Backlund 1 G / 1 A / 2 SOG Second Star David Rittich 35 SA / 0.943 SV% Third Star Petr Mrazek 25 SA / 0.880 SV%

Some interesting stats among the January stars:

Gaudreau put up 11 points in the five times he was selected

The single time Monahan was selected, he amassed one goal on 10 shots

Rittich’s three selections saw him post a combined 0.915 SV%

Backlund was selected as first star two games in a row right before the break

Giordano and Brodie were the only Flames defencemen selected

There’s no doubt about it, the Flames were red-hot all through January. With any luck, the extended break gave them the rest they needed continue putting it in the win column through to the end of the season (which will be in June for the Flames, right?).

Related: October | November | December

Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images