Post-Game: Flames go bust in Vegas

The Calgary Flames have not won a game at the T-Mobile Arena yet. Their string of poor results in Vegas continued, as the Flames dropped an incredibly tight-checking game by a 2-1 score to the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Flames got into some penalty trouble in the first period, taking three minors. On their second kill, with Garnet Hathaway in the box, the Flames gave up a goal. David Rittich made the initial save on Mark Stone, but the puck rebounded out to Shea Theodore and he leaned into a shot from the point that beat Rittich to make it 1-0 Golden Knights.

The Flames seemed to tie the game up a little bit later, though, but the goal did not stand. Marc-Andre Fleury’s got tangled up with Matthew Tkachuk at the top of the crease and though he made the initial save on a shot, he wasn’t able to get across to stop Johnny Gaudreau’s shot. Vegas challenged due to goaltender interference and the shot was ruled no goal.

Shots were 14-9 Flames and scoring chances 12-5 Flames in the opening period.

The visitors had a couple power plays in the second period that were not good. Not a lot of zone time or scoring chances. But just after their second power play expired, Travis Hamonic powered a slap shot past Fleury to get the Flames on the scoreboard and tie the game at 1-1.

Tkachuk backed into Fleury at the end of the period, setting off a bit of a scrum which featured Fleury (unsuccessfully) trying to goad Rittich into skating out to fight him. Shots were 14-9 Vegas and chances 8-6 Vegas in the second period.

Former Flames defender Deryk Engelland tilted this game in the third period, as his point shot found its way through traffic midway through the period to make it 2-1 Vegas. Rittich indicated he was interfered with, but it was Noah Hanifin grazing him while battling for position with Jonathan Marchessault.

The Flames battled, but couldn’t muster enough chances to draw back even. Shots were 15-11 Vegas and chances 6-3 Vegas in the third.

The Flames didn’t really dictate this game in any way, in the sense that Vegas seemed to decide the style and pace of this game. It was a bit of a grimy, systemsy game, and the Golden Knights were content to gum up the neutral zone and make the Flames chip and chase.

The Flames also didn’t really play with a ton of urgency until the third period, and by that time Vegas had seemed to figure out how to disrupt them. They couldn’t accomplish much of anything on their power plays, and the whole team seemed waiting for somebody – anybody – to kick things into a higher gear.

Tkachuk was an absolute tyrant on the ice. He was mucking around, trying to get under the Golden Knights’ skin.

In a tight game, Engelland’s shot from the point came at the exact worst time for the visitors.

Per Pat Steinberg: not only have the Flames never won at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas, they’ve never had a lead in any of their visits to the Strip. Yikes.

The Flames (41-19-7) head to a different part of the desert, Phoenix. They play the Arizona Coyotes tomorrow night.