Just 24 hours after the Calgary Flames were dragged to victory on the back of a heroic performance by their top line, they visited the New York Rangers in scenic Madison Square Garden. Despite a woeful start, the Flames’ depth players put them in a position to win after two periods. Unfortunately, the Flames just couldn’t close things out and ended up dropping a 4-3 heart-breaker to the Rangers.

If you want to see a textbook example of a Bad First Period, check out Calgary’s effort in the first. They were rocked for much of the period, forcing Mike Smith to make some nice saves to keep them in it. On a power play, Kevin Hayes took advantage of a bad Flames clear and put the Rangers up 1-0. However, the Flames eventually showed signs of life and a nice wrister from Brett Kulak eluded Ondrej Pavelec and tied the game late in the period – it was Kulak’s first-ever NHL goal.

Shots were 19-7 for the home side and chances were 11-7 for the hosts as well.

Henrik Lundqvist took over in net to start the second due to an injury to Pavelec.

Matt Stajan’s line seemed to score a goal early, but it was waved off due to goaltender interference. A little while later, the Rangers got a lead on a heartbreaking goal; Michael Grabner’s attempted pass to Kevin Hayes went in off Mark Giordano’s stick. Immediately after that goal, Ryan Lomberg lobbed the puck into offensive zone and Curtis Lazar beats out the Ranger defenders to it, poking it between Lundqvist’s legs to make it 2-2.

After a few nice chances were foiled by Lundqvist, the Flames took a lead late in the period. Dougie Hamilton’s point shot bonked in off rookie Neal Pionk to make it 3-2. (The goal’s been credited to Matthew Tkachuk, who almost put a stick on it.) The Flames had a 17-9 edge in shots and a 6-5 lead in scoring chances.

The visitors came into the third with a lead. They weren’t out-played by the Rangers, but they made more mistakes than the hosts did. Midway through the period, the Flames couldn’t clear the zone after an initial Rangers rush. Nick Holden drove the net, Smith made the initial save and Rick Nash jumped on the rebound to tie the game at 3-3. Later in the period, with Sam Bennett in the box, Mika Zibanejad scored off a tremendous cross-ice pass from J.T. Miller to make it 4-3. The Flames had a late power play but couldn’t get a second goal with the man advantage and so they lost 4-3. Shots were 9-6 Flames and scoring chances were 6-5 Flames.

Two big reasons: they looked awful in the first and they looked jumpy in the third.

They were playing their third game in four days – albeit with no real travel after Thursday’s game across the river in New Jersey. They looked flat, listless and were extremely fortunate to be tied after 20 minutes. But they were completely deserving of their lead after 40 minutes, as they got contributions from their depth players. They got a goal from Kulak, a goal from Lazar and a power play goal, all rare occurrences.

The Flames were in a position where their stars hadn’t done much through 40 and they had a lead. All they had to do was find a way to hold onto it. Instead, through some rough defensive zone play and some dumb penalties, they gave it away. It’s a disappointing finish to see from a veteran-laden team.

Let’s give it to the fourth line, who were very good tonight. They drew a couple penalties, scored a nice goal and overall did what you hope a fourth line will do: create some energy and minimize their mistakes.

Zibanejad’s game-winner with Bennett in the box was the back-breaker tonight.

Sam Bennett leads the Flames with 20 minor penalties. Dougie Hamilton has 19 and Mikael Backlund has 18 but Bennett has 18 points, Hamilton has 29 and Backlund has 34. It’s not a great look for Bennett, particularly given his ice time relative to the other players with as many minors.

The Flames now have 64 points with 27 games remaining. They need 31 points over their remaining schedule – the equivalent of a 15-11-1 record to hit the 95 point mark that’ll probably be the playoff cut-off.

The Flames (28-19-8) head across the East River on Sunday for a game with the New York Islanders in Brooklyn.