Post-Game: Flames streak snapped in Anaheim

The Calgary Flames headed to Anaheim to face a team that had played, and lost, the night before. On the opening night of a three game road trip, the Flames just weren’t good enough in a 3-2 loss to the Ducks.

The Flames got down early in this one. Jakob Silfverberg blew past Noah Hanifin and beat Mike Smith five-hole off the rush to make it 1-0 Ducks. Later in the period Anaheim made it 2-0: Josh Manson’s point shot through traffic was stopped, but Smith booted a rebound right to Adam Henrique. Henrique buried the rebound to make it 2-0 Ducks.

But the Flames got on the board before the period ended. They had a power play and they scored in four seconds. Sean Monahan won a faceoff back to Mark Giordano, who reversed it to Elias Lindholm, whose shot was tipped by Matthew Tkachuk to make it 2-1.

Shots were 11-9 Ducks but chances were 6-5 Flames.

Neither team scored in the second period, though the Flames had their chances.

Shots were 13-10 Flames, chances 11-5 Flames.

With Mikael Backlund in the box, the Flames tied things up short-handed. They won a battle for a loose puck inside their own blueline. Mark Jankowski won a battle, the puck squirted out and sprung him and Lindholm for a two-on-one rush. Jankowski opted to shoot, beating Ryan Miller glove-side to make it 2-2.

But just after that power play expired Rickard Rakell drove the net. He didn’t get a shot off, but Ryan Getzlaf took advantage of the chaos and tucked puck behind Smith to make it 3-2. The Flames had the game tied for all of 27 seconds. They pulled Smith and drew a late power play, but couldn’t generate enough good looks to tie things up. Shots were 17-3 Flames, chances 12-6 Flames.

Turns out you can’t spot a divisional rival two goals and the try to claw back. The Flames couldn’t get anything going at even strength and had to rely on their special teams to dig them out of a three goal hole: they weren’t able to.

Also, they didn’t get key saves at key moments. Smith wasn’t awful but he also wasn’t particularly good, and it cost the Flames points.

Monahan led the Flames in scoring chances and high-danger chances. He was noticeable all game for positive reasons.

The Flames were chasing for most of this game. They tied it with a short-handed goal. And then Getzlaf’s goal, the game-winner, came just 27 seconds after they drew even. They kept chasing but didn’t have the gas in the tank to tie things up.

The Flames held Anaheim to just seven high-danger scoring chances (per Natural Stat Trick), but just weren’t able to convert any of their own at even strength.

Anthony Peluso played in place of the injured Dillon Dube. He played 4:20 and was minus-1. Get well soon, Dillon.

The Flames (9-6-1) are off for a couple days. They’re back in action on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Kings.