Video: Iginla finally scores his first goal of the season

Going into the Calgary Flames’ game against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, 35-year-old forward Jarome Iginla was still searching for his first goal of the season.

The Flames captain has built a reputation for being able to consistently find the back of the net every season, but his first 25 shots on goal were stopped.

Iginla was able to put all that behind him when he positioned himself in front of Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard and shoveled the puck into the back of the net when the opportunity presented itself early in the first period.

“The first of the year is always nice to get over with,” Iginla said, in a Calgary Sun report.

“You never want to go six without it, and at the beginning of the season, it’s always magnified.”

You can watch his goal below:

The shortened season alone has amplified every cold streak, but Iginla is under additional scrutiny because of his star status and the fact that his contract will expire this summer.

He should have no trouble getting a new deal, even if he struggles, but there’s also the constant question of if the Flames will trade him while he’s still under their control and before his age degrades his market value too much.

That line of speculation will lose a lot of its fuel if the Flames can compete this season, but they have a uphill battle ahead of them despite their victory on Tuesday.