Post-Game: Flames lose last battle of the regular season

The Calgary Flames lost their last game of the regular season, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Edmonton Oilers. What was otherwise an unimpressive game was marred by an injury to Oilers captain Connor McDavid.

The Flames had some decent looks in the first half of the opening period, but the Oilers opened the scoring. The defense coughed up the puck in their own end and after a couple quick passes, Leon Draisaitl’s wrist shot from the faceoff dot found a way through Mike Smith to make it 1-0 Oilers.

But the locals tied things up late in the period. Mark Jankowski won an offensive zone draw, passed to Johnny Gaudreau on his wing and went to the net. Travis Hamonic’s point shot was redirected by Jankowski past Mikko Koskinen to make it a 1-1 game. Gaudreau was given the second assist for his 99th point of the season.

Shots were 11-11 in the first period, while chances were 8-3 Flames.

Connor McDavid left the game early in the second period, as he collided with Mark Giordano while trying to cut to the net and crashed left knee first into the goal post.

Giordano was given a minor for tripping, and Alex Chiasson jammed in a rebound after Oscar Klefbom’s initial shot to give the Oilers a power play goal and a 2-1 lead.

The Flames pressed later in the period, particularly on a late power play, but Koskinen was sharp. Shots were 11-9 Flames and chances 8-7 Oilers in the second period.

The Oilers added some insurance midway through the third period off a nice counter-punch play. The Flames’ attackers were caught up ice after Gaudreau lost a pass in his skates in the offensive zone, sending Darnell Nurse on a two-on-one rush with Dalton Prout playing back. Rather than play the pass or the shot, Prout stayed in the middle and so Nurse opted to shoot and beat Smith top corner to make it a 3-1 Oilers lead.

Shots were 9-5 Flames and scoring chances 7-4 Flames in the third period.

There wasn’t much emotional investment in the team’s forechecking or back-checking. They seemed a bit too fixated on getting Gaudreau to 100 points and it made their play in the offensive zone a bit clunky and predictable when he was on the ice.

Plus, Koskinen was much sharper than Smith. When the other team’s goaltender is better, you don’t tend to win too many close games.

Let’s go with Derek Ryan, who was flying all game long and generated some scoring chances with some nice use of his speed.

The Flames had a late second period power play, but Koskinen was really sharp with a couple gorgeous stops. If the Flames get a goal off that late advantage, it’s a whole different ballgame. But as it was, they couldn’t turn zone time into any meaningful offense.

Gaudreau played tonight, making him the only Flames player to dress in all 82 games and the first time in his own NHL career that he’s played in every game.

The Flames (50-25-7) have completed their regular season schedule. They begin the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday night against the Colorado Avalanche.