The Calgary Flames have been one of the National Hockey League’s better teams at closing out games in the third period. Maybe it’s because they play such a defensive-oriented, tight-checking style of game, but they entered Wednesday night’s clash with the Vancouver Canucks with a 20-1-3 record when leading after two periods.

On Wednesday night, their sterling record received a slight blemish in the form of a shootout loss against Vancouver, as the Flames let the Canucks back into the game in the final 20 minutes of regulation.

“Anytime you have the lead you want to close it out and get those two points,” said forward Nazem Kadri following the game. “But this is the modern day NHL. No lead is really safe. I think every team is capable of a comeback. So it’s unfortunate to let it slide but we’ll take the point.”

During his post-game press conference, Flames head coach Ryan Huska pointed out that the Flames’s outing greatly resembled how they performed in Saturday night’s 1-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

“I thought the first two periods were much like we played against Montreal, very similar,” said Huska. “And I thought the third period was similar as well, so we got away from the game in the third period again.”

Huska was asked about what was missing from the Flames’ game in the third period against Vancouver.

“Everything in the third period, last two games, is like one guy’s kind of going and nobody’s going with him, so it’s all about giving the puck to them and having no support around in your attempt to get it back,” said Huska. “So when we put pucks in in the third period in the last couple of days, we’re not stalling them, not impeding their progress back up the ice, and to me it’s because it’s one guy only. So there’s no waves coming at teams, so I just feel like we quit skating and we weren’t as connected in the third period as we need to be.”

Over the first two periods against Montreal, the Flames out-shot their opponents 19-16, out-chanced them 13-7 at five-on-five and had a 5-3 edge in five-on-five high-danger chances. Montreal held serve in the third period 10-5 in shots, 7-4 in scoring chances and 4-1 in high-danger chances. The Flames entered the third period with a 1-0 lead, and Dustin Wolf managed to stand on his head to preserve the victory.

Over the first two periods against Vancouver, the Flames out-shot their opponents 19-12, out-chanced them 12-8 at five-on-five and had an 8-2 edge in five-on-five high-danger chances. Vancouver dominated the third period, leading 17-4 in shots, 9-1 in scoring chances and 8-1 in high-danger chances. The Flames entered the third period with a 3-2 lead… and a rebound from an initial Wolf save ended up going right to Elias Pettersson – wide open, away from any defenders – for the game-tying goal.

“Just unfolded in the third period, I thought,” said Flames blueliner MacKenzie Weegar. “First few periods were solid. We were physical in their face. Both teams were working hard and thought we were the better team in the first two periods. And then, for whatever reason, I thought in the third period we kind of laid off the gas a bit, gave them a little bit more puck possession, weren’t killing plays as quick in the D zone. And, I mean, ultimately, you know, when a team’s pushing like that, they’re going to find their opportunity. So I thought it was the third period that we kind of slipped away from us a bit.”

Following Wednesday’s result, the Flames and Canucks are tied in the standings with 71 points apiece – the Flames remained in the final wildcard spot by virtue of playing fewer games, so they had a points percentage edge. But looking at the remaining schedule for the Flames and Canucks – and the St. Louis Blues and Utah Hockey Club, sitting two behind them at 69 points – the difference between making the playoffs and not is going to be razor thin. A single point could decide who’s playing past Game 82 – and it could even end up being decided by standings tiebreakers.

Suffice it to say, the Flames’ margin for error is razor thin. On Saturday, the bounces went their way and Wolf was able to preserve the victory. On Wednesday, they weren’t quite so lucky. But they were only in that position because of a pair of third period slumps, where the team’s attentiveness to their game’s details diminished.

Considering how little wiggle room they have in the standings, and how crucial every point earned and lost will be in the final accounting for a playoff berth, the Flames desperately need to rediscover their past 60 minute performances. Otherwise, they won’t like where they end up in the standings when all is said and done.

The Flames return to action on Friday night when they host the Colorado Avalanche.

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