Off And Running!

Second-period goals pace Flames to first preseason win

By Chris Wahl

CalgaryFlames.com

September 23, 2026

The perfect preseason tune-up.

The Flames mainstays got plenty of puck touches, Joel Farabee, Matt Coronato and Sam Honzek scored second-period goals, and Calgary sent the C of Red home happy with a 3-1 victory over a young Canucks squad Tuesday at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

The locals took control of the game in the second period, scoring each of their three goals late in the frame, on a night that all in all stood as a successful dress rehearsal as this abbreviated, four-game preseason continues.

The Breakthrough:

After oodles of pressure - Calgary had 18 shots in the second period alone - the homeside opened the scoring on a powerplay at the 15:00 mark of the second period. Parekh zipped the puck ahead to Gridin at the Canucks blue line, and he in turn sprung Farabee for a breakaway, allowing his linemate to snap the puck past Vancouver starter Kevin Lankinen's glove hand.

That got things rolling for the Flames - Farabee's goal was the first in a flurry of second-period scoring that saw Calgary light the lamp three times in a span of 3:58.

Farabee opens the scoring in tilt against Vancouver

In-Zayne:

Parekh was all over it Tuesday night, two days on from leading the Flames with 10 shot attempts in that 4-2 preseason-opening setback to the Kraken.

The second-year pro looked right at home on a pairing with newcomer Jake Middleton, displaying fancy edgework and creativity with the puck in his attempts to make things happen in the offensive zone.

On the Flames' third goal, he drove baseline (to borrow a basketball term), cutting to the net off the goal line before trying to stuff the puck past Lankinen, a play that resulted in Honzek's rebound tap-in.

He was named the game's First Star, finishing with two helpers over his 19:00 of work.

Honzek cleans up rebound of Parekh shot

The Fourth Line:

The trio of Maxim Tsyplakov, Martin Pospisil and Adam Klapka were tough to defend Tuesday. On multiple occasions, their work at maintaining possession helped Calgary hem the Canucks in their defensive zone, and the group combined for nine shots and five of the team's 14 hits over their evening of work.

Pospisil had the best chance of any of the three, when his one-timer from the slot was blockered away by Lankinen after a nifty feed from behind the net by Klapka.

Retro Nights:

During the first period, the Flames unveiled their brand-new, red '04 jersey, which will be worn at the 'Dome four times this coming season against each of their four opponents from that memorable 2004 playoff run, beginning with a home date against the Red Wings Oct. 24.

The new '04 jersey will be on sale at the CGY Team Store beginning Oct. 23!