The Calgary Flames let a two-goal lead slip away as they fell to the Boston Bruins 4-3 in overtime.

It’s a Team Game – The Flames got off to one of their best starts of the season. The first period was completely dictated by whatever Calgary wanted to do, other than scoring goals. Those came in the second period in quick succession. Two goals so swift it sent a message that said the Flames were here and they were not going to back down. That was roughly around the time the Bruins woke up and the Flames proceeded to back down. Calgary got stuck – once again – on three goals and could not find the offence to get the fourth one needed for the win. The hot start was a distant memory by the start of the third period, and the Flames ended up lucky to walk away with a point.

Corsi King – Huberdeau (74.80 CF%) and Kadri (72.06 per cent) continue to be a sparkplug of offence for a team desperate for it. Pospisil (68.79 per cent) was just as vital as Huberdeau and Kadri on number 91’s goal, providing a perfect screen in front of the goaltender allowing the other guys to play with the puck in open space. Calgary’s forward groups are starting to appear to have some regular chemistry for the first time since the first five games of the season. The Kadri line finding their connection in Pittsburgh was just the first step. Joel Hanley (64.24 per cent) got a huge opportunity with Miromanov taking a rotation in the press box and he stood out with multiple great defensive plays.

Taken By Chance – It was Weegar (59.46 SCF% || 42.68 HDCF%) and Hanley (58.19 per cent || 42.68 per cent) leading the way with four high danger looks for Calgary. A stark contrast from Bahl (21.40 per cent || 17.99 per cent) and Andersson (17.84 per cent || 17.99 per cent) seeing nine high danger looks go against them. A huge part of that is the responsibility of being the top pair – no matter how the night is going you have to keep going out. David Pastrnak is a very gifted player and him finding scoring areas and creating chances against you is nothing to scoff at. The Bruins ended up with the advantage in this game, that’s okay, on to the next one.

xGF% – I have liked what Pelletier (68.96 per cent) has brought. I’m personally comparing his effectiveness to what Kuzmenko had been bringing and it’s not particularly close. Pelletier is more engaged in the play, more responsible defensively, and moves with the Flames five-man unit more effectively. He’s provided some offence in a depth role, Calgary just needs more primary scorers to rise to the occasion. One player I keep waiting on to start scoring in bunches is Connor Zary (58.09 per cent). Visibly he has been the most impressive Calgary Flames forward all year long, but the point production has yet to match up with the shot creation. It feels inevitable – I hope the dam breaks soon.

In The Crease – Despite the loss Dustin Wolf stood tall and delivered another impressive performance. The Flames failed to keep the Bruins from swarming the crease as the game got later and Wolf was always there. The only goals that beat him came off odd bounces or plays where he had made the first save. Sometimes the defenceman needs to be ready to clear the puck to help out his netminder. 2.98 expected goals against at 5v5 with the three goals getting behind him. Nothing to complain about from myself, I thought this was a quality outing for the rookie.