Is the writing on the wall?
All the teams around them seem to keep winning, the Flames keep this one step forward one step back pattern that isn’t gaining ground on any of the combatants.
Tonight in Denver the Flames give up a 2-0 lead on the Avalanche first two shots on the night and never recovered despite getting a boat load of chances and driving the play for most of the night.
With 22 games to go, and a four goal gap against three teams it just seems pretty unlikely.
That feels like a painful loss of a point, doesn’t it?
The Flames had leads of 2-0 and 3-1 heading into the third period, but sit on the lead and let their hosts back into it before losing in overtime on what looked like a bad change from Mikael Backlund.
The trip is fine on it’s own … win in Arizona, point in Vegas … all good. But the team needs points to get back into the mix, and tonight they gave away a key one.
Will need at least a point in Denver on Saturday night now in my estimation.
First off … how the hell did the Arizona Coyotes go nine games with a point?
Secondly … didn’t that seem like the Flames season in a microcosm again? Outshooting the Coyotes 30-7 in the second period they were sitting down 1-3 on the scoreboard and looking like yet another loss to a bottom feeder.
Instead the Flames score two in the second and three more in the third to lay waste to the Coyotes and win the game 6-3 on Wednesday night.
The win is huge for the Flames as they couldn’t let this one get away with the Knights, Avalanche, Bruins and Leafs on tap and the Flames having to win at almost a .700 clip the rest of the way.
Two points banked tonight.
If this was a one off it would be a moral victory.
But it’s the theme of the season so there’s no solace in out shooting, out chancing and controlling the play.
You need to convert your chances. You need to get a save.
The Flames haven’t had enough of either on the season and tonight like so many nights they come up short losing 4-3 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Family Day Monday in Calgary.
Just not their season.
Tired of saying it.
The Flames won a game in extra time? Pinch me!
After a woeful season of losing games either in the extra time or shoot out the Flames were the recipient of an overtime powerplay, the high stick to public enemy number one Adam Fox, with Mikael Backlund doing the honours in the extra period.
The Flames had a two nothing lead on two quick goals in the game’s first minute before the Rangers got back on even terms with a goal in each of the second and third period to tie things up.
The win gives the Flames points in three of their last four games which sounds a lot cheerier than a blown lead in Ottawa and a face plant against the Red Wings on home ice two nights ago.
Still in the hunt.
Still no breathing room.
Bring on the Flyers.
