Post-Sim Wrap-Up: Flames thumped by Vegas in Game 4

The Calgary Flames headed into virtual Game 4 looking to take a commanding lead in their simulated first round series with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Nope.

Instead, the Flames were thoroughly out-played by Vegas en route to a 5-1 loss that tied the best-of-seven series at two wins apiece.

Vegas got on the board very early, with Alex Tuch redirecting a point shot past David Rittich on the power play to give the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead. They padded their lead before the end of the first period, as Reilly Smith wired a wrister past Rittich with the clock winding down at the end of the period, which made it 2-0 for the home side.

Another power play in the second period for Vegas gave them another marker. This time, William Carrier scored with a wrist shot that punctuated a lengthy stretch of cycle play in the Flames end by Vegas, and made it 3-0. But Andrew Mangiapane spoiled Marc-Andre Fleury’s shutout bid late in the second period, as he managed to score on a wrap-around (after Fleury was wiped out making the initial save) to cut the lead to 3-1.

But that’s as close as the Flames could muster. Chandler Stephenson and Paul Stastny added third period goals – Stastny’s was the Golden Knights’ third PP goal of the game – to cement a 5-1 home win for Vegas.

The Golden Knights never trailed. Shots were 28-19 Vegas and the Flames never seemed to get into gear.

Game 5’s simulation goes Thursday night in Calgary.