The Calgary Flames headed east to sweet home Chicago for their final date of the truncated 2013 season. Given that it was a contest between a non-playoff squad and the NHL’s newly-crowned Presidents’ Trophy winners, there were certain expectations for how the game would go.

Would those expectations be met? In terms of the result, yes, but in terms of the effort? Not entirely.

The Flames stumbled out of the gate, generally getting out-chanced and out-played by the Blackhawks. Chicago out-shot the Flames 13-5 in the first and had two goals. The first came off a weird in-zone bounce, where Joey MacDonald made the first save and then the defensive zone coverage appeared to disappear. Patrick Kane snapped the puck home on a nifty feed from Patrick Sharp to put the Flames behind the eight-ball 1-0. Jonathan Toews took advantage of a beautiful rebound (and no defensive coverage) four minutes later to put the Flames down by two.

What would the team do?

Oddly, they fought back. Down two goals after 20 minutes, on the road, in a barn where they usually aren’t very good, the Flames out-shot the Blackhawks 13-12 in the second and crept back within one goal via Chris Butler’s first (and only) goal of the season. Lee Stempniak and Ben Street earned assists on a goal created on the forecheck.

The Hawks woke up and out-played the Flames in the third – let’s face it, as they should – and Marcus Kruger snapped the insurance marker home to seal the deal mid-way through the third period.

Let’s give it to Ben Street, who had 2 shots, 3 hits and his first NHL point via his assist on Calgary’s lone (short-handed) marker. Plus, look at that head.

Honourable mention to Lee Stempniak, who also had an assist and ended the year tied with Mike Cammalleri for the team lead in points. (Cammalleri played fewer games and had more goals, so he wins on both tie-breakers, but Stempniak had a great year.)

(via Justin Azevedo)

Let’s be blunt here: they were playing the NHL’s best team. They fought valiantly, they scored a short-handed goal and they played a defiant scrappy game. But they probably should have lost this game, and they did.

Edmonton won! They passed Calgary! If Carolina gets a point or wins tomorrow, Calgary moves up a draft pick. Similarly, if Nashville wins tomorrow, Calgary moves up a draft pick.

Worst-case, Calgary sits sixth headed into the draft lottery. If Carolina and Nashville both succeed, they can draft as high as fourth. Go Hurricanes and Predators!

The 2013 season is over. What’s left is reflection on 2013 and preparation for 2013-14.

It’s Green Garbage Bag Day down at the ‘Dome on Sunday. We’ll have an extra special day of coverage for you, in the sense that I’ll be live-blogging in-between running to and from scrums. It’ll be ever-so-much fun!

 Until then.