A brief history of losing in Anaheim
By Ryan Pike
6 years agoThe Calgary Flames play the Anaheim Ducks tonight. It’s a road game that will see the Flames return to the scene of several of their most painful losses: the Honda Center. The Flames have not won in Anaheim since Jan. 19, 2004, a stretch of futility that has set a National Hockey League record with 25 regular season losses in a row.
As the Flames attempt to exorcise their demons tonight, let’s take a look back at some painful, painful losses.
The Streak
If you want to define The Streak by the letter of the law, it’s 25 regular season losses dating back to April 2004. If you’re a stickler and claim that playoff games should count, too, then it’s 29 games dating back to April 2006.
The Flames have used 123 different skaters and 16 different goalies during the streak.
Failed to load video.
L1 – April 2, 2004: Anaheim 2, Calgary 1
Jarome Iginla scored in the second period but Martin Skoula and Sergei Fedorov scored within 1:54 of each other to capture the win.
Jarome Iginla scored in the second period but Martin Skoula and Sergei Fedorov scored within 1:54 of each other to capture the win.
L2 – Oct. 26, 2005: Anaheim 4, Calgary 1
The Flames never had a lead in this one. Anaheim scored three PP goals, including one with 5 seconds left in the third period.
The Flames never had a lead in this one. Anaheim scored three PP goals, including one with 5 seconds left in the third period.
L3 – April 17, 2006: Anaheim 4, Calgary 3
The Flames battled back from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits, but a PP goal from Teemu Selanne midway through the third sunk them. (The Flames never led.)
The Flames battled back from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits, but a PP goal from Teemu Selanne midway through the third sunk them. (The Flames never led.)
(April 25, 2006: Flames beat Anaheim 5-2 in Game 3 of their first round series. They lost the next two games in Anaheim 3-2 and 2-1, and the series in seven games.)
L4 – Nov. 26, 2006: Anaheim 5, Calgary 3
Another one where the Flames never had a lead. Daymond Langkow scored on a late PP to bring them within one, but Anaheim answered back four seconds later to ice it.
Another one where the Flames never had a lead. Daymond Langkow scored on a late PP to bring them within one, but Anaheim answered back four seconds later to ice it.
L5 – Dec. 18, 2006: Anaheim 4, Calgary 1
Daymond Langkow scored 1:40 in, but the Ducks scored four unanswered goals to win. (Calgary led for roughly 18 minutes.)
Daymond Langkow scored 1:40 in, but the Ducks scored four unanswered goals to win. (Calgary led for roughly 18 minutes.)
L6 – Feb. 17, 2008: Anaheim 4, Calgary 2
Daymond Langkow scored late in the first, but Anaheim answered back with four second period goals. (Calgary led for roughly five minutes.)
Daymond Langkow scored late in the first, but Anaheim answered back with four second period goals. (Calgary led for roughly five minutes.)
L7 – Feb. 29, 2008: Anaheim 3, Calgary 1
Mathieu Schneider scored 35 seconds in and the Ducks cruised to a win.
Mathieu Schneider scored 35 seconds in and the Ducks cruised to a win.
L8 – Nov. 2, 2008: Anaheim 3, Calgary 2
Anaheim got out to a 3-0 lead and the Flames clawed back, but they just couldn’t tie the game.
Anaheim got out to a 3-0 lead and the Flames clawed back, but they just couldn’t tie the game.
L9 – Feb. 11, 2009: Anaheim 3, Calgary 2 (OT)
The Flames blew 1-0 and 2-1 leads, losing off a Scott Niedermayer goal 55 seconds into overtime.
The Flames blew 1-0 and 2-1 leads, losing off a Scott Niedermayer goal 55 seconds into overtime.
L10 – Nov. 23, 2009: Anaheim 3, Calgary 2 (SO)
The Flames blew a 1-0 and trailed 2-1 for much of the game, forcing overtime via a Jarome Iginla goal with 18 seconds left. But they couldn’t get anything done in OT and lost in a shootout. (Curiously, Iginla was not one of the three shooters.)
The Flames blew a 1-0 and trailed 2-1 for much of the game, forcing overtime via a Jarome Iginla goal with 18 seconds left. But they couldn’t get anything done in OT and lost in a shootout. (Curiously, Iginla was not one of the three shooters.)
L11 – Jan. 17, 2010: Anaheim 5, Calgary 4
Olli Jokinen opened the scoring, and the Anaheim scored four goals in the remainder of the first to take over the game. Calgary rallied back but couldn’t quite tie it up.
Olli Jokinen opened the scoring, and the Anaheim scored four goals in the remainder of the first to take over the game. Calgary rallied back but couldn’t quite tie it up.
L12 – Dec. 10, 2010: Anaheim 3, Calgary 2 (SO)
Anaheim got out to a 2-0 lead, but third period goals by Olli Jokinen and David Moss forced overtime. Despite assists on both Flames goals, Iginla was not one of the shooters.
Anaheim got out to a 2-0 lead, but third period goals by Olli Jokinen and David Moss forced overtime. Despite assists on both Flames goals, Iginla was not one of the shooters.
L13 – March 20, 2011: Anaheim 5, Calgary 4 (OT)
Anaheim had a 3-0 lead by 5:49 into the first, but the Flames rallied back to lead 4-3 late. Teemu Selanne tied it up with 2:01 left, and Corey Perry got the OT winner.
Anaheim had a 3-0 lead by 5:49 into the first, but the Flames rallied back to lead 4-3 late. Teemu Selanne tied it up with 2:01 left, and Corey Perry got the OT winner.
L14 – Feb. 6, 2012: Anaheim 3, Calgary 2 (SO)
Anaheim had a 2-0 first period lead, but the Flames rallied back to tie it up. The shootout went to 8 rounds and Iginla was used, so this was just a toss-up game.
Anaheim had a 2-0 first period lead, but the Flames rallied back to tie it up. The shootout went to 8 rounds and Iginla was used, so this was just a toss-up game.
L15 – March 2, 2012: Anaheim 3, Calgary 2
In a game full of lead changes, Ryan Getzlaf scored with 46 seconds left to break a third period tie.
In a game full of lead changes, Ryan Getzlaf scored with 46 seconds left to break a third period tie.
L16 – March 8, 2013: Anaheim 4, Calgary 0
Daniel Winnik scored 1:15 in and Anaheim cruised to a win.
Daniel Winnik scored 1:15 in and Anaheim cruised to a win.
L17 – Oct. 16, 2013: Anaheim 3, Calgary 2
Dustin Penner scored 3:26 in and Anaheim led the rest of the way, despite occasional flurries from Calgary.
Dustin Penner scored 3:26 in and Anaheim led the rest of the way, despite occasional flurries from Calgary.
L18 – Nov. 29, 2013: Anaheim 5, Calgary 2
The Flames never led as Anaheim scored the first three goals and cruised to a win.
The Flames never led as Anaheim scored the first three goals and cruised to a win.
L19 – Nov. 25, 2014: Anaheim 3, Calgary 2
The Ducks got out to a 3-0 led but the Flames almost tied it with a pair of third period goals.
The Ducks got out to a 3-0 led but the Flames almost tied it with a pair of third period goals.
L20 – Jan. 21, 2015: Anaheim 6, Calgary 3
The Ducks scored the first four goals and cruised to a win.
The Ducks scored the first four goals and cruised to a win.
(The Flames lost three playoff games in Anaheim in 2015 by scores of 6-1, 3-0 and 3-2.)
L21 – Nov. 24, 2015: Anaheim 5, Calgary 3
Ryan Getzlaf had five assists as the Flames blew 2-0 and 3-2 leads.
Ryan Getzlaf had five assists as the Flames blew 2-0 and 3-2 leads.
L22 – Feb. 21, 2016: Anaheim 5, Calgary 2
The Flames never led in a game where Anaheim had goals in all three periods.
The Flames never led in a game where Anaheim had goals in all three periods.
L23 – March 30, 2016: Anaheim 8, Calgary 3
Anaheim scored five goals before the Flames even got one.
Anaheim scored five goals before the Flames even got one.
L24 – Nov. 6, 2016: Anaheim 4, Calgary 1
Clayton Stoner and Alex Chiasson exchanged first period goals, then the Ducks took over.
Clayton Stoner and Alex Chiasson exchanged first period goals, then the Ducks took over.
L25 – April 4, 2017: Anaheim 3, Calgary 1
The Flames led after the first period via a Mikael Backlund goal, but the Ducks tied it 48 seconds into the second and took over from there.
The Flames led after the first period via a Mikael Backlund goal, but the Ducks tied it 48 seconds into the second and took over from there.
(The Flames lost two playoff games in Anaheim in 2017 by scores of 3-2 and 3-2.)
Sum it up
The Flames have lost in Anaheim for a lot of reasons over the years. They’ve had bad starts. They’ve blown leads. They’ve made asinine coaching decisions. They’ve had comebacks fall short. They’ve been straight up outplayed in roughly 10 of these losses. Can they end a record-setting stretch of futility tonight? Can they finally be a group that actually enjoys going to Disneyland?
Recent articles from Ryan Pike
