Post-Game Wrap-Up: Flames drop close game to Capitals

The Calgary Flames were pretty good for the most part on Tuesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. However, as has become tradition this season, their mistakes snowballed on them. Primarily due to a few second period lapses, the Flames lost 5-3 to the Washington Capitals.

The Flames played a pretty smart, structured game in the first period. They didn’t generate a ton of great looks, but they didn’t up too many either. Both the Flames and the Capitals had first period power plays, neither scored. Shots were 15-9 Flames and scoring chances 6-6 in the first period.

A lot of things happened in the second period, beginning with a Flames staple this season: a goal allowed in the opening minute. 35 seconds into the frame, Nicklas Backstrom narrowly missed a tip-in of an Alex Ovechkin centering pass… but the puck careened over to John Carlson, whose slapper went in off Cam Talbot’s stick to give the Capitals a 1-0 advantage.

2:06 later, the Capitals cashed in again off a weird play. Talbot went out behind his net to play a dump-in. Chandler Stephenson went fore-checking and stole the puck. Uh-oh. He attempted to pass it to the face-off circle for a teammate to shoot it… but the pass bonked off Rasmus Andersson’s skate and went into the open net to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

But 28 seconds after that goal, the Flames cashed in on the power play off a nifty little bit of passing. Johnny Gaudreau found Elias Lindholm all by his lonesome on the far right side of the zone. With time and space to operate, Lindholm went top corner on Braden Holtby to cut the Capitals lead to 2-1.

Late in the period the Flames tied things up. They couldn’t score during two minutes of PP time, but TJ Brodie’s point shot as the Washington penalty expired led to chaos in front of Holtby. That allowed Austin Czarnik to jam in the rebound to make it 2-2.

The tie lasted 10 seconds. The Flames lost the face-off and were caught in the neutral zone, leaving Michael Stone to defend a Backstrom/Ovechkin two-on-one. It went poorly. An Ovechkin one-timer made it 3-2 Capitals.

Shots were 10-8 Flames and chances were 7-5 Flames in the second period.

The Flames pressed a bit in the third period, but couldn’t bury their chances. The Capitals jumped on a loose puck in the neutral zone late in the period, which allowed Tom Wilson to add some insurance to make it a 4-2 Capitals lead. Carlson added an empty-netter to make it a 5-2 for the Capitals.

Tobias Rieder jumped on a rebound to cut the lead to 5-3, but it was too little, too late.

They let it get away from them. They were right there with the Capitals for much of the game, but some key defensive lapses allowed the visitors to score in bunches and take control the game. Then they chased and opened up a little too much, which allowed the Capitals to pad their lead.

Sean Monahan didn’t get any points, but for yet another game he played like he had a bee in his bonnet. Angry Sean Monahan has been something to behold.

The Flames had the game tied for 10 seconds. Washington getting their lead back really took the wind out of the Flames’ sails.

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

All of the offense in the second period took place in a combined span of 2:54.

This was Cam Talbot’s first start at home with the Flames. He’s obviously still looking for his first home win.

Rieder’s third period goal was his first since Apr. 5, 2018.

This was the Flames’ first regulation loss at home of 2019-20.

The Flames (5-5-1) practice tomorrow. They’re back in action on Thursday night when they welcome the Florida Panthers to town.

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