The Calgary Flames lost to the Washington Capitals by a 5-3 score on Thursday night at the Saddledome. Here are selected reactions following the game.

For the eighth time this season, the Flames allowed the other team to score first. They never led in the game and chased the entire time. Flames head coach Bill Peters saw several positives from the game, but lamented that his team spent the duration chasing.

“I thought we had to come from behind, obviously,” said Peters. “Our power play was good. Our specialty teams were good. I didn’t think we gave up much through 40. I don’t think we gave up much, but ended up chasing the game and couldn’t get there in the end.”

Let’s say this right up front: Flames goaltender Cam Talbot owned the loss. He expressed his responsibility for the two early second period goals that swung the game in Washington’s favour.

“I feel like I gave them too much momentum to start the second there,” said Talbot. “The first one got sprayed a little bit in the face and kinda panicked for a second there and couldn’t find the puck and then panicked and put in my own net. The second one, couldn’t get the puck off the wall to Gio and by that time the guy had already sealed off that lane. I’ve just got to make a better play than that. Take the first two minutes of the second and I thought we played well enough to win.”

In his chat with the media, Peters attributed the first goal to a nice play by the Capitals chucking the puck on net from the half-boards and the second goal to a bad bounce.

The Capitals have a terrifying power play, punctuated by Alex Ovechkin unleashing one-timers from his usual spot on the left side of the offensive zone. Credit to the Flames: they had three penalty kills but held the Capitals to four shots and zero goals. (They also had a power play goal and a goal that was scored four seconds after a power play ended.)

“I thought our penalty kill did an awesome job against possibly the best power play in the NHL,” said Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk. “I think that can be another positive to take is that. Mistakes against teams like that, they come back to bite you, but they’re a great hockey team over there.”

Last season, the Flames played the Capitals at home for their 11th game of the season. The Flames lost to drop their record to 5-5-1. This season, the Flames played the Capitals at home for their 11th game of the season. The Flames lost to drop their record to 5-5-1.

Time is a flat circle.