The Calgary Flames hosted the Seattle Kraken at the Saddledome on Wednesday evening. It was the first game for both teams in several days following the National Hockey League’s holiday break, and neither team looked all that sharp as they worked off their respective holiday feasts.

In a game that was a bit of a slog for both teams to get through, the Flames dropped a 2-1 decision to the Kraken.

For the second consecutive game, the Flames allowed a goal on the very first shot they faced. Walker Duehr led an offensive rush up the ice, but his scoring chance was disrupted and Vince Dunn threw a nice pass up ice to spring Kailer Yamamoto on a breakaway. He beat Markstrom to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

But the Flames got that one back fairly soon afterwards on the power play. Brian Dumoulin was penalized for tossing the puck over the glass. On the resulting power play, Yegor Sharangovich got the puck, deked out Chris Driedger, and threw the puck to Nazem Kadri in the slot. Kadri bonked the puck into the open net to tie the game at 1-1.

First period shots were 8-7 Kraken (7-6 Kraken at five-on-five) and via Natural Stat Trick, five-on-five scoring chances were 12-8 Kraken (high-dangers were 5-3 Kraken).

Neither team scored in the second period. It was fairly dull, with both teams generating a few decent rushes that ended up dissolving into dust in the last 20 feet before the net. The Flames had a couple good looks on their power play, but that was it.

Second period shots were 13-6 Flames (9-6 Flames at five-on-five) and five-on-five scoring chances were 6-5 Kraken (high-dangers were 4-1 Kraken).

Six minutes into the third, the Kraken pulled off the rush. Alex Wennberg fired a puck past Markstrom to give the Kraken a 2-1 lead.

The Flames pulled Markstrom for the extra attacker late, but it was to no avail, and the Kraken held on for the 2-1 victory.

Third period shots were 17-8 Flames (14-7 Flames at five-on-five) and five-on-five scoring chances were 7-6 Kraken (high-dangers were 4-3 Flames).

This was a game to be endured, not enjoyed, as both teams seemed to lack much offensive mojo or swagger. You could say both sides tried to play through each other, which led to turnovers, off-sides, icings, and a general lack of flow. The Kraken managed to execute a little bit better than the Flames did, but it’s not like either team will be looking at this as a particularly good or bad outing overall.

Kadri had the lone Flames goal and many, many shots, so we’ll give him the nod.

Wennberg’s go-ahead goal is the easy choice here.

At the first TV timeout, Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom was given an Energy Board shout-out for winning his 200th career game against Anaheim before Christmas.

The Flames (14-16-5) are back in action on New Year’s Eve when they host the Philadelphia Flyers.