After a storybook start to the season the Flames have spent two months letting divisional rivals gradually creep back into the playoff race.
And now its official - the Flames are once again chasing a playoff spot after losing 3-1 at home last night to the New York Islanders. Combined with a 2-0 Los Angeles victory over Nashville, the Flames are outside looking in, one point behind the Kings and fading badly once again with their third straight loss.
The Flames have won just six of their last 27 games and now stand at 19-17-8-2 on the season, good for 48 points. Phoenix trails Calgary by two points, the Canucks are only three behind and Minnesota is five in arrears. No point in looking up right now.
For the second straight game the Flames badly out-shot an opponent and probably deserved a better fate in this one. Calgary started slowly and New York dominated the opening stanza, out-shooting Calgary 14-8 and opened scoring on, predictably, the power play. Defenceman Adrian Aucoin managed to sneak in from the blueline and deposit a rebound into an open net behind Calgary starter Roman Turek only 3:12 into the contest.
The Flames came out flying in the second period and evened the affair at 1-1 when Igor Kravchuk, with a shift the Flames would love to see more of, drilled a point shot, picked up his own rebound, whirled around the net, circled out front in Fleury-esque fashion, and beat a twisted Chris Osgood at 8:59.
But the Isles, who had only three shots in the period compared to 16 for Calgary, pulled ahead for good at 18:28 when Aucoin drilled a straight and true point shot through a screen and beyond the grasp of Turek who failed to even move.
Islanders entered the game 19-0-3 when leading after two periods.
The Flames pressed throughout the remainder of the game but both netminders were sterling before Mike Peca put the game out of reach with a controversial open net marker at 19:19.
The contest opened a six game home stand for the Flames, one many consider critical for determining the teams' playoff fortunes. It was the first Islander win in Calgary since November 1992.
Flames were zero for three on the powerplay in spite of the return of Derek Morris while the Islanders were one for three. Calgary has been taking significantly fewer penalties of late - not a bad idea since they continue to have problems killing them.
Attendance was 15,624.
Next up is Mario Lemieux and Pittsburgh on Thursday night. It goes without saying the Flames have to win.
