Flames Post-Game: Pesky Predators beat Flames in overtime

The Calgary Flames didn’t play a great game against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night at the Saddledome. They had trouble with puck management and their breakouts were a bit clunky for a good chunk of the game. But as has been the theme so far this season, they stuck with it and found ways to generate offense in crunch time.

The Flames dropped a close one by a 3-2 score in overtime to Nashville. Their winning streak is over, but their regulation points streak is extended to eight games.

For the first time in a couple of weeks, the Flames allowed the first goal in this game. On a draw to Jacob Markström’s left, Ryan Johansen drew the puck back to the point. Alexandre Carrier’s shot through some traffic was redirected in front by Luke Kunin past Markström and gave Nashville a 1-0 lead.

But 98 seconds later, on the power play, the Flames answered back. Nashville had a two-on-one shorthanded chance that Markström stopped. That led to a three-on-two rush going the other way for Calgary. Elias Lindholm’s initial shot was stopped, but Matthew Tkachuk jammed in the loose rebound to tie the game up at 1-1.

But late in the period, the Predators got another lead. The Flames bobbled a pass in their own end, putting the puck right on the stick of Filip Forsberg. Forsberg fired one past Markström to make it 2-1 Predators.

Shots were 20-9 Flames (18-8 Flames at five-on-five) and scoring chances were 17-5 Flames in the first period.

Neither team scored in the second period, though Nashville had some nice chances and took advantage of some leaky Flames defensive play in their own zone – several passes were just a bit past their intended targets.

Shots were 8-5 Flames (5-3 Predators at five-on-five) and scoring chances 4-3 Flames in the second period.

The Flames drew an early penalty for delay of game off a nice Blake Coleman forecheck, but the power play generated zero shots on goal – Dillon Dube rang one off the post, though. But just after the penalty expired, Oliver Kylington came onto the ice, took a short pass from Chris Tanev, and went bar-down on Juuse Saros to tie the game up at 2-2.

The Flames kept pressing but couldn’t get another in regulation.

Shots were 11-7 Flames (11-6 Flames at five-on-five) and scoring chances 8-5 Flames in the third period.

Off to overtime this game went: Nashville went on a three-on-one rush (leaving Noah Hanifin all alone to defend) after Mikael Backlund was toppled in the offensive zone and Matthew Tkachuk was caught up ice, and Matt Duchene scored on Markström to give Nashville a 3-2 victory.

This was a game where the Flames needed to make adjustments and find their rhythm. There were stretches where they didn’t look quite linked up with each other, but they rolled with the proverbial punches and worked through their hiccups to keep this game close.

And for the most part, they carried play and looked good. They just couldn’t beat Saros.

Let’s go with Kylington, if only because his first goal of the season was a beauty.

The Flames found ways to not score in this game, with passes just somehow not finding their intended recipient. So it was quite fortuitous for the home side that Kylington scored when he did, as it seemed to give the bench renewed energy.

Data via Natural Stat Trick. Percentage stats are 5v5.

This was Sean Monahan’s 600th career game with the Flames. He’s the 11th Flame to play 600+ games, following Jarome Iginla, Mark Giordano, Robyn Regehr, Al MacInnis, Theo Fleury, Mikael Backlund, Joel Otto, Jim Peplinski, TJ Brodie and Gary Suter.

Brett Ritchie and Mark Borowiecki fought off a face-off in the first period. Ritchie got the worst of it and had to be helped off the ice by a pair of teammates. He did not return to the game.

Jacob Markström’s shutout streak lasted 144:46.

The Flames (6-1-2) are back in action on Thursday when they host the Dallas Stars.