NEW YORK -- They may only be seven games into their season and hold a winning record, but the Calgary Flames know they need to make a change to their game.
"Last couple of games our starts haven’t been what we want," said head coach Bill Peters Sunday at Madison Square Garden. "We gotta make sure we limit the opportunities especially early in the game. We should be able to get all four lines out there without giving up a grade A scoring chance [and] get everybody in the game feeling good and establish a forecheck."
Fast starts have not been a strong suit for the Flames this season. On Thursday, they allowed a goal in the first minute of action to the Nashville Predators' Ryan Johansen. Two games prior, it was Colorado's Nathan McKinnon who scored just 11 seconds into the contest.
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First periods are critical to building momentum in a game. The Flames are 1-3 when they have been outshot in the first period and 1-2 when the other team scores first.
"We’ve been not as good in the start [our last few games]," noted Elias Lindholm who scored the Flames first goal twice this season. "We know when we play our best we’re a good team. Last game was tough for us, so bounce back."
One way for the Flames to turn things around early would be to get James Neal going. The left winger, who hasn't scored fewer than 20 goals since he first joined the NHL with the Dallas Stars in 2008-09, has only one goal this season.
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"I think you’re always frustrated when you’re not scoring but I think it’s something I’ve been through 100 times," said Neal. "The goals will come. Obviously, when you’re a goal scorer you’re going to be streaky. You can’t score every game or you’d have a ton of goals...I think it’s just simplifying and getting back to maybe going to the net a little bit more, getting in those hard areas and banging one in."
"I thought he’s played really well even though he hasn’t had many goals," noted Neal's current linemate, Sam Bennett. "He’s played really well and we’ve got lots of looks. Obviously, those goals are going to come...He’s a great player. He works really hard and the skill is elite. His shot is one of the best I’ve seen."
Neal, who signed as a free agent with Calgary in the offseason, had his lone goal come against the St. Louis Blues - over a week ago. While he is confident in his own game, he mentioned that the shifting of line combinations in each game has been tough.
"It's obviously a change. It’s a new team, I’m getting to know my linemates [and] I think that’s the biggest thing," said Neal who had four shots and looked strong skating with Bennett and Derek Ryan on Thursday. "It’s guys that I haven’t played with before. So getting to know each other's tendencies...You just gotta learn each other, grow as a line and I think we’re gonna do that here soon."
Of course, it is still early -- for Neal and for the team.But more slow starts for either or both will sound more alarms in Calgary.