Calgary Puck

They just can’t keep finding ways to lose games.

Tonight some cobwebs after a long road trip; they hadn’t been on home ice in 21 days, and some spotty goaltending again hands the Wings a 5-2 win at the Saddledome on Thursday night.

But enough is enough.

In this season from hell they just keep finding a way not to put together the streak that’s needed to secure a playoff spot. Not getting a timely save, not getting some finish on a key scoring chance, the blown lead in Ottawa taking away a point, or their horrendous record in both one goal games and overtime and the shoot out.

Just a laundry list of reasons this just isn’t their year.

They’re still in it, but man this just keeps limping along.

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A solid road effort with a hugely disappointing finish.

You could laugh it off if it wasn’t in the 65% mark of a season that has just been a head scratcher, but instead it’s just another straw towards that proverbial camels’ back.

Uncle!

The Flames dominate the game from start to finish, build up a two goal lead in the third period and then with the goalie pulled give up not one but two goals and then the overtime winner after dominating the overtime period as well.

The five game trip all in all was successful enough with six points; they’re in better shape than when they left.

But such a different feel to this season …

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No points in Detroit for the Flames.

That’s the bottom line, they competed, they held the Wings to a reasonable result defensively, but couldn’t generate enough offence nor finish on the chances they did generate in losing a 2-1 game in Detroit on Thursday night.

Still not enough cohesion or flow up front, a complete lack of chemistry that is just killing this season.

They get the puck in rim it a half dozen times, put bad angle shots on goal to build up a shot and shot attempt count, but don’t generate enough to win hockey games.

In all fairness they only gave up 8 high danger chances while generating 10 … that should get you the win as boring as it sounds, but they just can’t finish to the level they generate.

This isn’t a team you add to.

Let them play it out.

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Take the point.

The Flames had a boatload of jam for a team that didn’t have a practice and had nine days off between games. They brought it both in terms of territorial play, and culture setting up three different fighting majors with come to the rescue of a teammate plays.

Where they weren’t solid though was defensively giving up way too many opportunities and giving the Rangers chance after chance to either go ahead or come back late, finally falling to New York in overtime.

For Markstrom, pretty much the same old story … no ugly goals per say, but five against vs a 3.5 night in expected goals says the Flames lost the goaltending battle again.

The point keeps the team plugging in the standings with three more road games on this trip; Detroit, Buffalo and Ottawa.

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Such an important win.

With the failed effort last night against Chicago, coming up big on a back to back against a division rival is huge in the standings, but also huge for the players as they don’t have to stew on back to back losses over a nine day breaki.

The Flames were powered by a top line first period with three goals, and then some great penalty kill work from the skaters and Dan Vladar to bring the game home.

The win moves the Pacific into a complete log jam with all five teams sitting within five points.

Could be a hell of a finish.
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