While the Calgary Flames are still technically able to make the 2024-25 Stanley Cup playoffs, an overtime loss to the rival Edmonton Oilers made their quest much more challenging with 10 games remaining. The St. Louis Blues moved seven points ahead (it’s worth mentioning that the Blues have played three more games than Calgary), making the final stretch as crucial as ever.

At Rogers Place, the Flames engaged in their final Battle of Alberta of the season, looking to come away with the season series win. However, at the hands of Leon Draisaitl (who registered a point on every Oilers goal in the 3-2 overtime loss), they fell just short.

Head coach Ryan Huska analyzed the Flames’ performance in the defeat in his post-game press conference, saying he didn’t believe the team was good or bad. Instead, he felt like they sat right in the middle.

“I thought we were okay, would probably be the way I put it,” Huska said, via Flames TV. “I thought we had some guys that had a good night. Naz played hard again tonight for us and was the guy that was generating. I felt like the overall pace of our game wasn’t as good as the night before.”

As mentioned before, Draisaitl was the star of the show. He scored two goals, including his 50th of the season late in the game with the Flames trying to hold on to a 2-1 lead, and assisted on the first Oilers goal.

“I think it’s more about the play in the neutral zone,” Huska said. “From where I was, it’s more about making sure you’re skating through that puck to get it in deep instead of trying to make a play at that point. Then, when it’s turned over, we have everybody going in the wrong direction, and [Draisaitl]’s got the room because of that.”

Unfortunately, this replay of the goal doesn’t go back a few more seconds, but we can see where the play starts in front of the Oilers bench after a poke check gave possession to Edmonton. Then, Draisaitl takes advantage of the space he’s given, and the game is tied.

There was a mistake on the Oilers overtime winner from Draisaitl as well. A three-on-two rush forces the two Flames defenders to give the big German forward too much room, and he snipes home the winner.

“We lost a guy down low, and with good players or good shooters, you don’t want to leave a player in a position to shoot like that,” Huska said.

The Flames had chances to hold off an Edmonton team without Connor McDavid, but Draisaitl took advantage of a couple of mistakes, and with a pace that Huska described as “okay,” it’s hard to beat that kind of team. However, the Flames have a chance to get it back against another team full of superstar talent and lots of pace in the Colorado Avalanche.