TAMPA — The Calgary Flames, the morning after their latest triumph, had been relatively easy to locate.

They were in Tampa in western Florida.

They were in second place in the National Hockey League’s overall standings, locked with the Vancouver Canucks.

As far as the former goes, well, a glimpse at the schedule would have provided a hint as to their likely whereabouts on Wednesday.

The latter? Being cozied up with the circuit’s elite?

No one could have — or would have — predicted that.

A year ago, Bob Hartley urged his charges to ignore the noise of rebuilding and, instead, to focus on “shocking” the hockey world. With nightly diligence, they did manage to impress.

But shock? Not exactly.

This time around? Yes, so far. Not that the skipper is crowing.

“Hockey is a simple game,” says Hartley. “It’s all about execution — knowing your roles, knowing where you’re supposed to be — and executing at a high level. We’re getting there. There’s big parts of our game that are really improved.

“I like how the players are loose. They’re not comfortable, they’re loose.

“They’re on the job. That’s what I want.”

The Flames boast a record of 8-4-2, including a sparkling 6-2-0 line on the road.

No other outfit has triumphed more away from home.

Before the Flames packed up for their latest junket, Hartley explained that his role is to simply support his players, to spur them on — to keep them relevant on the Western Conference table.

“Well, we’re there — and the marathon has just started,” he said. “I know everyone in the hockey world is waiting for us to trip, but I have faith in our guys. We’re going to succeed because we’re hard workers, we’re good people. I’m very fortunate . . . we count on players with a big heart.”

Wednesday’s day off had been scheduled well in advance of the Flames’ dramatic 4-3 overtime decision over the Washington Capitals.

But it arrived at an ideal time.

The Calgarians, reeling at times Tuesday, survived an oddball display at the Verizon Center — with fluke goals, with emotional tributes to the hosts’ superstar, with spectacular (and less than spectacular) netminding, with comebacks (from both sides) — so a day’s reboot had been in order.

“Our guys never quit,” says Hartley. “The third period, I felt that was our best period. The first and second — I don’t know — we were not skating our game. That’s not the team that I know. We turned (over) way too many pucks.

“Hey, we found a way and that’s the most important thing. We stuck with it. A huge two points for us.”

Not lost on the night of Jonas Hiller’s redemption — after permitting two second-period goals, he slammed shut the door — were the steady-handed contributions of the moppets up front.

Markus Granlund’s tally, the equalizer with five minutes remaining in regulation time, gives him six points in his last eight appearances.

Josh Jooris, who had a hand in the overtime goal, has five points in seven contests. In addition to staring down the Caps’ top line, Sean Monahan, 20, banged in the winner.

And, of course, Johnny Gaudreau, when not undone by illness, is becoming a factor.