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<p>The Calgary Flames hosted the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night, hoping to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive against one of the top teams in the Pacific Division. The Flames had flashes of great play, but it just wasn&#8217;t enough to get the desired result.</p>
<p>The Flames lost to Vegas by a 3-2 score. Their playoff hopes remain mathematically alive, but just barely.</p>
<p></p>
<h2><strong>The rundown</strong></h2>
<p>Neither team looked great in the first period, but the Golden Knights were pretty consistent throughout and the Flames gradually got better. But in the middle of a disjointed period, Vegas opened the scoring.</p>
<p>The Flames were cycling the puck in the Vegas zone and trying to get a good shooting lane to open. That passing and pressing pulled Nikita Zadorov a little out of position, allowing Jonathan Marchessault to sneak behind him. Jack Eichel fired a pass to Marchessault, leading to a two-on-one rush with Marchessault and Ivan Barbashev facing MacKenzie Weegar. Weegar starfished to block the pass, so Marchessault elected to shoot, beating Markstrom to make it 1-0.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jonathan Marchessault scores the first goal of the game. </p>
<p>Very uneventful start for the Flames tonight. </p>
<p>1-0 Vegas <a href="https://t.co/IS5nkSBocv">pic.twitter.com/IS5nkSBocv</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1639077729437126656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>A few minutes later, Vegas struck again. The Flames timed a line change poorly, leaving a gigantic open passing lane in the neutral zone. Shea Theodore put a crisp pass on Mike Amadio&#8217;s stick. Amadio&#8217;s initial breakaway chance was stopped by Markstrom, but Amadio bonked in his own rebound to give Vegas a 2-0 lead.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michael Amadio puts the Golden Knights up 2-0. <a href="https://t.co/IiDiTIGp4P">pic.twitter.com/IiDiTIGp4P</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1639079079449333763?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The Flames thought they opened the scoring later in the period on a power play, as Andrew Mangiapane drove the net and had a pass go in off his skates. But the goal was reviewed and disallowed because of everyone&#8217;s favourite thing, the distinct kicking motion.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Andrew Mangiapane kicks the puck in the net. No goal. <a href="https://t.co/y4a8Dk726X">pic.twitter.com/y4a8Dk726X</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1639080575960244228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>But in the final minute of the first period, the Flames actually broke the goose-egg: Milan Lucic caused a Vegas turnover inside the Flames blueline and Walker Duehr grabbed the puck and raced up ice. Duehr put a nice pass on Lucic&#8217;s stick in front of the Vegas net and Lucic chipped the puck high over Logan Thompson to cut the Vegas lead to 2-1.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Flames 4th line scores a beautiful goal! Duehr with a great pass, and Lucic with the high end finish. </p>
<p>Calgary needed that. </p>
<p>2-1 Vegas <a href="https://t.co/sJmlwZ8MBL">pic.twitter.com/sJmlwZ8MBL</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1639081932456886272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The Golden Knights added to their lead midway through the third period. Rasmus Andersson couldn&#8217;t get enough mustard on an attempted clearing pass – he protested after the play, suggesting he felt he had been held – and Nicolas Roy stole the puck. A couple passes later, and Roy roofed the puck past Markstrom to make it 3-1 Vegas.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nicolas Roy scores for Vegas. </p>
<p>3-1 Golden Knights. <a href="https://t.co/hjuqL6lUai">pic.twitter.com/hjuqL6lUai</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1639102891897262080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The Flames had their second goal of the game waved off a little later. Milan Lucic shoved Zach Whitecloud into the Vegas net, slightly dislodging it. The officials didn&#8217;t seem to notice it and play continued. Thompson, seemingly aware that goals can&#8217;t be scored on dislodged nets, raced to the bench for the extra attacker. But he was caught halfway to the bench and Duehr fired the puck into the wide-open net. The play was reviewed by the officials and the goal was waved off because the net was dislodged. (It was a very weird sequence.)</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Weird play here. The net got knocked off. But the referee didn&#39;t notice and the Flames thought they scored a goal. </p>
<p>However it was called back. <a href="https://t.co/VbTz1e73eS">pic.twitter.com/VbTz1e73eS</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1639105736507797504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>But the Flames inched a bit closer a few minutes later on the power play. The Flames got a few chances and managed to bury their third chance of the advantage, as Jonathan Huberdeau threw the puck to Nazem Kadri at the high slot and Kadri buried the feed past Thompson to cut the Vegas lead to 3-2.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nazem Kadri scores! He gets some life back into the building and makes it a one goal game. </p>
<p>Great pass by Huberdeau below the goal line. </p>
<p>3-2 Vegas <a href="https://t.co/rjop6ILzA8">pic.twitter.com/rjop6ILzA8</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1639108452135075840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Thompson seemed to injure himself – playing his first game since Feb. 9 – and left the game with 6:07 left in regulation. Jonathan Quick entered the game in relief. The Flames made a push late, but Quick stood tall and the Golden Knights held on for the 3-2 victory.</p>
<h2><strong>Why the Flames lost<br />
</strong></h2>
<p>The Flames got better as this game wore on, and they had some spurts of really strong play.</p>
<p>But for the most part, their game was disjointed. Their transition play was equal parts slow and challenged in its execution. Vegas did a nice job keeping the Flames to the outside in the offensive zone, and disrupting their attempted puck carrying in the neutral zone and at their blueline.</p>
<p>The Flames just weren&#8217;t good enough for long enough in this game to get the desired result.</p>
<p><em><strong>Flames Game Day content is presented by Betway!</strong></em></p>
<h2><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-101226" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Betway_Rhomboid_doubleSided_EvenSpacing-svg.jpg" alt="" width="740" height="222" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Betway_Rhomboid_doubleSided_EvenSpacing-svg.jpg 740w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Betway_Rhomboid_doubleSided_EvenSpacing-svg-300x90.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px" /></h2>
<h2><strong>Red Warrior</strong></h2>
<p>Don&#8217;t pin this one on the netminder. Markstrom made a lot of really strong saves and in general faced more dangerous chances than his counterpart at the other end of the ice.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Man. Markstrom deserves better tonight.</p>
<p>&mdash; Cami Kepke (@CamiKepkeGlobal) <a href="https://twitter.com/CamiKepkeGlobal/status/1639103052274880512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2><strong>Turning point</strong></h2>
<p>The Flames never had a lead in this game, but the entire first period was seemingly a race between Vegas and Calgary to see which club could get their game going more quickly. Vegas won that race, left the period with a lead, and then just managed the game well from then on out.</p>
<h2><strong>This and that</strong></h2>
<p>The Flames wore special #SnowyStrong helmet stickers for this game in support of assistant general manager Chris Snow. <a href="https://www.tovashan.com/shop/p/snowystrong">The stickers are designed by artist Tova Shan and can be purchased from her website</a>, with the proceeds going to the Flames Foundation to help in the fight against ALS.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">We love you <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisSnowCGY?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChrisSnowCGY</a>!</p>
<p>The boys have <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SnowyStrong?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SnowyStrong</a> stickers on their helmets, which were created by Willa Snow’s U9 team to raise funds to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EndALS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EndALS</a>! </p>
<p>More info: <a href="https://t.co/RPKs25cyws">https://t.co/RPKs25cyws</a> <a href="https://t.co/DM5nmledGB">pic.twitter.com/DM5nmledGB</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLFlames/status/1639069211631951872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The Flames&#8217; elimination number is 7.5 &#8211; any combination of Flames losses or Winnipeg wins adding up to 7.5 eliminates them from the playoffs. Similarly, their magic number is 12.5 (on Winnipeg) and 13 (on Nashville) – the combination of Flames wins and losses by those respective teams that ensures that the Flames finish ahead of them in the standings.</p>
<h2><strong>Up next</strong></h2>
<p>The Flames (32-26-15) are back in action on Saturday afternoon for a matinee against the San Jose Sharks.</p>

<em><b>Be sure to check Betway for the latest Flames game <a href="https://betway.com/en/sports/grp/ice-hockey/north-america/nhl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://betway.com/en/sports/grp/ice-hockey/north-america/nhl&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1676167924124000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2egXHUEIzc9YiW_hwAAEHw">NHL odds</a>!</b></em>

The Calgary Flames hosted the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night, hoping to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive against one of the top teams in the Pacific Division. The Flames had flashes of great play, but it just wasn't enough to get the desired result.

The Flames lost to Vegas by a 3-2 score. Their playoff hopes remain mathematically alive, but just barely.


<h2><strong>The rundown</strong></h2>
Neither team looked great in the first period, but the Golden Knights were pretty consistent throughout and the Flames gradually got better. But in the middle of a disjointed period, Vegas opened the scoring.

The Flames were cycling the puck in the Vegas zone and trying to get a good shooting lane to open. That passing and pressing pulled Nikita Zadorov a little out of position, allowing Jonathan Marchessault to sneak behind him. Jack Eichel fired a pass to Marchessault, leading to a two-on-one rush with Marchessault and Ivan Barbashev facing MacKenzie Weegar. Weegar starfished to block the pass, so Marchessault elected to shoot, beating Markstrom to make it 1-0.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1639077729437126656

A few minutes later, Vegas struck again. The Flames timed a line change poorly, leaving a gigantic open passing lane in the neutral zone. Shea Theodore put a crisp pass on Mike Amadio's stick. Amadio's initial breakaway chance was stopped by Markstrom, but Amadio bonked in his own rebound to give Vegas a 2-0 lead.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1639079079449333763

The Flames thought they opened the scoring later in the period on a power play, as Andrew Mangiapane drove the net and had a pass go in off his skates. But the goal was reviewed and disallowed because of everyone's favourite thing, the distinct kicking motion.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1639080575960244228

But in the final minute of the first period, the Flames actually broke the goose-egg: Milan Lucic caused a Vegas turnover inside the Flames blueline and Walker Duehr grabbed the puck and raced up ice. Duehr put a nice pass on Lucic's stick in front of the Vegas net and Lucic chipped the puck high over Logan Thompson to cut the Vegas lead to 2-1.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1639081932456886272

The Golden Knights added to their lead midway through the third period. Rasmus Andersson couldn't get enough mustard on an attempted clearing pass – he protested after the play, suggesting he felt he had been held – and Nicolas Roy stole the puck. A couple passes later, and Roy roofed the puck past Markstrom to make it 3-1 Vegas.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1639102891897262080

The Flames had their second goal of the game waved off a little later. Milan Lucic shoved Zach Whitecloud into the Vegas net, slightly dislodging it. The officials didn't seem to notice it and play continued. Thompson, seemingly aware that goals can't be scored on dislodged nets, raced to the bench for the extra attacker. But he was caught halfway to the bench and Duehr fired the puck into the wide-open net. The play was reviewed by the officials and the goal was waved off because the net was dislodged. (It was a very weird sequence.)

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1639105736507797504

But the Flames inched a bit closer a few minutes later on the power play. The Flames got a few chances and managed to bury their third chance of the advantage, as Jonathan Huberdeau threw the puck to Nazem Kadri at the high slot and Kadri buried the feed past Thompson to cut the Vegas lead to 3-2.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1639108452135075840

Thompson seemed to injure himself – playing his first game since Feb. 9 – and left the game with 6:07 left in regulation. Jonathan Quick entered the game in relief. The Flames made a push late, but Quick stood tall and the Golden Knights held on for the 3-2 victory.
<h2><strong>Why the Flames lost
</strong></h2>
The Flames got better as this game wore on, and they had some spurts of really strong play.

But for the most part, their game was disjointed. Their transition play was equal parts slow and challenged in its execution. Vegas did a nice job keeping the Flames to the outside in the offensive zone, and disrupting their attempted puck carrying in the neutral zone and at their blueline.

The Flames just weren't good enough for long enough in this game to get the desired result.

<em><strong>Flames Game Day content is presented by Betway!</strong></em>
<h2><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-101226" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Betway_Rhomboid_doubleSided_EvenSpacing-svg.jpg" alt="" width="740" height="222" /></h2>
<h2><strong>Red Warrior</strong></h2>
Don't pin this one on the netminder. Markstrom made a lot of really strong saves and in general faced more dangerous chances than his counterpart at the other end of the ice.

https://twitter.com/CamiKepkeGlobal/status/1639103052274880512
<h2><strong>Turning point</strong></h2>
The Flames never had a lead in this game, but the entire first period was seemingly a race between Vegas and Calgary to see which club could get their game going more quickly. Vegas won that race, left the period with a lead, and then just managed the game well from then on out.
<h2><strong>This and that</strong></h2>
The Flames wore special #SnowyStrong helmet stickers for this game in support of assistant general manager Chris Snow. <a href="https://www.tovashan.com/shop/p/snowystrong">The stickers are designed by artist Tova Shan and can be purchased from her website</a>, with the proceeds going to the Flames Foundation to help in the fight against ALS.

https://twitter.com/NHLFlames/status/1639069211631951872

The Flames' elimination number is 7.5 - any combination of Flames losses or Winnipeg wins adding up to 7.5 eliminates them from the playoffs. Similarly, their magic number is 12.5 (on Winnipeg) and 13 (on Nashville) – the combination of Flames wins and losses by those respective teams that ensures that the Flames finish ahead of them in the standings.
<h2><strong>Up next</strong></h2>
The Flames (32-26-15) are back in action on Saturday afternoon for a matinee against the San Jose Sharks.

Calgary Flames Post-Game: Flames go bust in home loss to Vegas

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