Casey Cizikas opens the scoring for the Islanders. 🎥: MSG | #Flames
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Instant Reaction: Flames comeback falls short on Long Island
Photo credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
Welcome to Instant Reaction, where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Calgary Flames game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below!
The Calgary Flames were pretty blah for two periods at UBS Arena on Long Island on Saturday night, as they visited the New York Islanders. But their third period was almost good enough to salvage the game.
The Flames rallied from a 3-0 deficit but couldn’t climb all the way back, losing 3-2 to the Islanders.
The rundown
The Islanders opened the scoring in the first period, with Casey Cizikas batting the puck in off a goal-mouth scramble after Devin Cooley made the initial save. That gave the Isles a 1-0 edge.
Awhile later, just after a Flames’ power play ended, the Islanders scored off a nice breakout play. Simon Holmstrom finished off a rush play, firing a pass from Brayden Schenn past Cooley to make it 2-0.
Simon Holmström puts the Islanders up 2-0 🎥: MSG | #Flames
The Islanders made it 3-0 off a shorthanded rush after a turnover by the five-man power play, with Holmstrom beating Cooley.
Maybe the 5 forward power play unit isn't such a good idea... 3-0 Islanders 🎥: MSG | #Flames
First period shots were 10-8 Islanders.
Dustin Wolf relieved Devin Cooley in net to start the second period.
The Islanders seemed perfectly content just to run the clock in the second period, not really pressing all that hard in the middle frame.
Second period shot were 8-7 Islanders
The Flames woke up in the third period and made a game of it.
Mikael Backlund won a face-off to the point, Olli Maatta fired the puck from the point, and Backlund deflected the puck past David Rittich to cut the Islanders’ lead to 3-1.
🔥FLAMES GOAL🔥 It's another milestone goal for Mikael Backlund! He passes Kent Nilsson for 5th on the Flames all time goal scoring list! 🎥: MSG | #Flames
A little later, the Flames scored again, with Blake Coleman driving the net and beating Rittich to cut the lead to 3-2.
🔥FLAMES GOAL🔥 Blake Coleman takes the puck to the net and beats Big Save Dave! It's a one goal game. 🎥: MSG | #Flames
But that’s as close as the Flames got. They pulled Wolf for the extra attacker, but couldn’t draw even and lost by a 3-2 score.
Third period shots were 17-9 Flames.
Why the Flames lost
The Flames were really good in the third period. They were kinda bad in the first period, especially with lapses at key moments, and they were only decent-ish in the second period. When you’re only good for one period on the road, it’s tough to win.
Red Warrior
Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman share this honour, as they scored a pair of goals that nearly got the Flames back into it.
Turning point
Simon Holmstrom’s shorthanded marker, the eventual game-winner, was a tough goal to give up.
This and that
Zayne Parekh returned to the lineup. So did Zach Whitecloud, who wore an alternate captain’s A.
After Burner
Join Mike Gould and myself right after the game for After Burner!
Up next
The Flames (26-33-7) conclude their road trip on Monday night in Detroit. That game will be on Prime Monday Night Hockey.
PRESENTED BY STAKE
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