Calgary Flames: 2 Biggest Surprises Of The Season So Far

The majority of NHL teams have already played 20 games this season, so we are starting to get a better understanding of what to expect from them moving forward. There have been certain players who have been big surprises thus far and it feels fair to shine a light on them. In this series, we will be looking at two from each team who certainly can be classified as that.

The Calgary Flames will be discussed in this one. After a rough 26-27-3 record last season, they are currently at the top of the Pacific Division and aren't showing signs of slowing down. These players are certainly a big reason for their success, as they each have taken their games to that next level.

Andrew Mangiapane: Andrew Mangiapane has gotten better each season since making the Flames, but my goodness, this season he has taken a monstrous step forward so far. In 22 games, he has a whopping 15 goals and 17 total points. The 25-year-old is emerging into a legitimate top-six forward and it will be interesting to see how many goals he has by season's end.

Oliver Kylington: In January, the entire NHL had the chance to claim Oliver Kylington off waivers. Nobody elected to and the Flames have to be ecstatic about that now. He's improved immensely this season, as he has three goals and 13 points in 21 games already. He also currently sports a plus-10 rating, so he's remaining reliable even with his offensive surge.

Honorable Mention: Offseason acquisition Daniel Vladar has been spectacular for the Flames so far. In five appearances, he has a 4-0-1 record, 1.57 GAA and .946 SV%. With that, he already has two shutouts. One just happened to be against the team he was traded by - the Boston Bruins.

Check out our previous article on the Anaheim Ducks here. In our next installment, we will be focusing on Calgary's biggest rival, the Edmonton Oilers.