Hockey is weird. One day you’re retired, enjoying the quiet life, and the next you're the oldest coach in the NHL standing on a bench in Ohio trying to fix a struggling power play. That was the reality for Rick Bowness this week.
The Calgary Flames vs Blue Jackets matchup on January 13, 2026, wasn't just another mid-season grind. It was a chaotic, 5-3 emotional rollercoaster that saw a Gordie Howe hat trick, a coaching debut for the ages, and a Calgary team that just couldn't stop shooting itself in the foot despite a perfect night on the power play.
The Bowness Effect and a Quick Start
Most people expected some growing pains. After all, Bowness was hired just 24 hours before puck drop to replace Dean Evason. Instead, Columbus looked like a team that had been shot out of a cannon.
Dante Fabbro found the back of the net just 3:57 into the first period. It was a heavy shot from the point that seemed to catch Calgary’s Dustin Wolf a bit off guard. Honestly, the Flames looked like they were still on the plane for the first twenty minutes. They were outshot, outworked, and eventually found themselves down 2-0 after Charlie Coyle notched his first of two goals on the night.
Calgary captain Mikael Backlund admitted after the game that they didn't match the "new coach energy." You could see it. Columbus was flying.
Calgary’s Power Play Was Scary Good
If you only looked at the special teams stats, you'd swear the Flames won this game going away. They went 3-for-3. Perfect.
Morgan Frost—who has been a bit of a lightning rod for criticism lately—was actually the one who got them back into it. He scored a gritty goal from his knees in the second period. Then Rasmus Andersson blasted a slap shot to tie it up at 2-2 before the second intermission.
It felt like the momentum had completely flipped. Calgary was silencing the Nationwide Arena crowd, and Columbus looked like the same team that had been languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
The Captain Takes Over
The third period was basically a Zach Werenski and Boone Jenner highlight reel.
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Werenski is having a monster season. He’s currently leading all NHL defensemen in goals, and he notched his 17th (and eventually 18th depending on which stat sheet you trust) on a 5-on-3 advantage early in the third. The guy is a cheat code from the left circle.
But the real story was Boone Jenner.
He did it all. He scored the game-winner with 1:34 left on the clock. He had an assist. And, in true old-school fashion, he dropped the gloves with Rasmus Andersson in the second period. That gave him the legendary Gordie Howe hat trick. When your captain is fighting and scoring game-winners in the same 60 minutes, it’s hard not to get fired up.
The final dagger came from Charlie Coyle, who slid one into the empty net with three seconds left. 5-3. Game over.
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Why the Flames Are Faltering
This loss was Calgary’s fifth in six games. That’s a nosedive.
While their power play is clicking at an elite level, their 5-on-5 play is sort of a mess. They gave up 43 shots to a Columbus team that isn't exactly known for being an offensive juggernaut. Dustin Wolf made 38 saves and still took the loss. You can't ask a young goalie to do much more than that.
The turning point was a brutal giveaway by MacKenzie Weegar late in the third. He tried to clear the zone along the wall, but Jenner intercepted it and snapped it home. Those are the kind of "unforced errors" that drive coaches crazy.
Key Takeaways from the Matchup
If you're betting on these teams or just tracking them for fantasy, here's the reality of where they stand after this game:
- The Blue Jackets aren't "fixed," but they're different. Bowness has them playing a much more aggressive style at home. They’ve now won two straight (including an OT win against Utah) and seem to have some life.
- Zach Werenski is a Norris Trophy candidate. If he keeps up this scoring pace, he’s going to be in the conversation. He now has points in 16 straight home games.
- Calgary's road woes are real. They are now 7-16-2 on the road. They look like a completely different team when they aren't at the Saddledome.
- The "New Coach Bump" is a real thing. Columbus played with a desperation that had been missing for weeks.
What to Watch for Next
Calgary needs to figure out their defensive zone exits. They are getting hemmed in for long stretches, and it's exhausting their top pairs. Keep an eye on the trade rumors surrounding some of their veteran blueliners; if this slide continues, the front office might start looking toward the draft lottery rather than the playoffs.
Columbus, on the other hand, faces Vancouver next. That will be the real litmus test for the Bowness system. If they can compete with a high-octane team like the Canucks, the "oldest coach in the league" might just have one more miracle run in him.
Actionable Insight for Fans: Watch the injury report for Calgary’s next few games. They looked tired in the third period, and with the heavy travel schedule, some of the veterans like Nazem Kadri might see their minutes managed. If you're playing fantasy, Werenski is a "must-start" regardless of matchup right now.