Has Another Struggling Flames Forward Found His Game?

Calgary Flames forward Yegor Sharangovich struggled at the start of the season to re-create last year's impressive goal-scoring production. Netting an impressive 31 goals, he set a career-best in his first year with Calgary.

Conversely, this year began much slower, with only six goals in his first 29 games. The Belarussian was seemingly unable to find his game again until a recent point streak suggested things were turning around.

In his past three games prior to Tuesday's contest, Sharangovich registered three assists and four points. One of those points was a powerplay assist on a Mackenzie Weegar goal against a top team in the league, the Winnipeg Jets.

After an unfortunate knee injury sidelined teammate Connor Zary, Sharangovich found himself playing at center again. A position in which he has found success.

Through the last seven games before the loss to Washington, he has been producing at a point per game. Scoring three goals in that time, Sharangovich appears to have found his scoring touch at center.

This bounce-back couldn't come at a better time for the Flames as they find themselves still in possession of the final wildcard spot in the West in a tight race with their division rival Vancouver Canucks.

Another forward who couldn't quite find his footing after a successful last year is Andrei Kuzmenko. With four points in his previous four games since re-entering the lineup he too has looked to be turning a page recently.

If the Flames can re-ignite last year's scoring provided by these two forwards, they'll get great secondary scoring behind Nazem Kadri, and Jonathan Huberdeau, who have been excellent this season.   

Sharangovich is currently in the last year of his deal paying him $3.1 million but already has an extension signed. Next year, he will get a raise to $5.75 AAV for the next five seasons. To earn that money, the Flames will need him to continue producing and prove he has found his game again.