The Calgary Flames entered Wednesday night’s game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre looking to improve upon their league-worst road record. It didn’t go as they had hoped, as a fleet-footed Canadiens team ran circles around the Flames for much of the three periods of action.

The Flames were chasing for much of the contest en route to a 4-1 loss to the Habs to open up a five game eastern road trip.

The Flames were on their heels for much of the first period, as Montreal used their speed to attack in the offensive zone – both with the puck and on the forecheck. As a result, the Flames didn’t have the puck a lot and were defending a lot. Dustin Wolf was busy.

First period shots were 14-7 Canadiens. Via Natural Stat Trick, 5v5 scoring chances were 11-5 Canadiens and high-danger scoring chances were 4-2 Canadiens.

Montreal opened the scoring 3:10 into the second period. A couple passes in the Flames zone got the puck onto Alexandre Texier’s stick as he straddled the goal line. Rather than pass the puck back to Alexandre Carrier, he slightly pivoted and picked the top corner on Wolf, short-side, to give the Canadiens a 1-0 lead. (Texier had way too much time and space to operate, as it seemed like the Flames got crossed up regarding who was supposed to be checking who in their own zone.)

The Flames got a power play, as William Stromgren drew a hooking minor. The Flames didn’t score on that man advantage. After the penalty ended, Montreal got a couple chances the other way as several tired Flames were stuck on the ice defending after the power play. The initial Montreal chance was stopped, but they won the puck battles and Phillip Danault fed Lane Hutson for a one-timer in the slot that beat Wolf to make it a 2-0 Canadiens lead. (The power play skaters were tuckered out and Montreal used their speed well to open up gaps.)

Off a neutral zone face-off, Nazem Kadri got the puck inside his own zone. But as Juraj Slafkovsky pursued him Kadri lost his footing – the Flames felt it was a trip, the Canadiens did not – and Slafkofsky recovered the puck and fired it on net. Wolf made the initial save but Oliver Kapanen deposited the rebound into the Flames net to make it 3-0 Canadiens. (The Flames were a bit caught up ice on this sequence defensively and after Kadri was toppled, there wasn’t really much opportunity to defend.)

With 2:21 left in the second period, Joel Farabee got the Flames on the board. He sniped a shot from just inside the offensive blueline that seemed to fool Jacob Fowler – perhaps he was having trouble tracking it due to the distance or a possible screen from one of his defenders – and that cut the home side’s lead to 3-1.

Second period shots were 14-9 Flames. 5v5 scoring chances were 6-4 Canadiens and high-danger scoring chances were 3-1 Canadiens.

Montreal scored again 3:56 into the third period. Once again, it was a rush goal. This time, the Flames seemed to bunch up trying to defend the initial zone entry, and Texier threw a nice pass across the zone to a wide-open Cole Caufield. With plenty of time and space, Caufield picked the top corner, short-side, on Wolf to give the Canadiens a 4-1 lead.

Kadri scored off the rush with 4:30 left in regulation, beating Fowler just inside the far post, but the play was challenged by the Canadiens and ruled off-side, which kept the Habs’ lead at 4-1.

Montreal held on for the 4-1 win.

Third period shots were 12-8 Canadiens.

The Flames are at their best when they can establish their forecheck, roll their lines, and impose their pace onto the game. The Flames tend to work well when the pace is moderate. They’re not a slow team, but they have a cadence to their game when they’re playing well. In this game, Montreal played fast, moved fast, and generally looked fast. The Flames really struggled with Montreal’s speed, as it made it a challenge for them to execute breakouts, do much to gain their own speed in the neutral zone, or generate much offensively.

The Flames are not a terribly slow team, but Montreal made them look positively glacial with their speedy skating and puck movement.

Joel Farabee had a ton of energy and scored the lone goal, so we’ll give him the nod.

During a span of 5:02 early in the second period, the Canadiens scored three goals on five shots. That turned a game where the Flames were being out-played but hanging in there defensively to one where they were chasing.

William Stromgren made his NHL debut, playing on the fourth line alongside Ryan Lomberg and Morgan Frost. He drew a pair of penalties and was minus-1 in 8:04 of ice time.

Hunter Brzustewicz recorded a secondary assist on Joel Farabee’s second period goal, which represents Brzustewicz’s first NHL point.

Join Cami Kepke and myself right after the game for After Burner!

The Flames (18-21-4) are headed to Beantown. They’ll face the Boston Bruins on Thursday night in the second half of this back-to-back set.

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