Calgary Puck

The Sabres have surprised a few teams to start the season including the Edmonton Oilers about a week ago in forging a record a game over .500 coming into the game against Calgary.

But even still, it was tough imagining a successful road trip after the loss in Montreal without finding two points in Buffalo on Thursday night.

So it was a good sign to see the Flames literally give the Sabres little chance in turning a 1-0 lead into a commanding 5-0 victory on the strength of Johnny Gaudreau and Andrew Mangiapane’s two goa performances and yet another shut out from doughnut king Jacob Markstrom.

The win gives the Flames a 2-1-2 record and six points through five games on the seven game road trip with back to backs to come on Saturday and Sunday against the Islanders and Bruins.

A point or two gives them a .500 or better trip, which isn’t a the 5-0-0 trip we saw earlier, but not bad for a team that has spent most of it’s schedule not only away from home, but two time zones away.

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Well the Flames certainly aren’t overtime masters this season are they?

For the 5th time this year the Flames took a game to overtime, but came up empty in the extra frame failing to get the extra point.

Tonight the Flames and Flyers played a spirited 1-1 tie through 60 minutes, two teams that don’t see each other all that often, but have built up a solid base of dislike despite the unfamiliarity.

A first period goal by Oliver Kylington was offset by a second period goal by Kevin Hayes; both goals very fortuitous, before the Flyers found a way to put things away in overtime.

The loss gives the Flames a 1-1-2 record for four points in four games on their seven game road trip.

Next up is Buffalo on Thursday night.

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At least they got the point.

The Flames looked like they were going to steal one for ten minutes in the third period when Oliver Kylington put the Flames up as the team continued to ride the strong goaltending by rookie Daniel Vladar.

But a Kylington turnover resulting in a William Nylander game tying goal which forced overtime and resulted in an Austin Mathews winner to turn the Flames back by a 2-1 overtime score.

That’s three straight losses for the Flames, but they did snap the pointless streak at two and keep hope alive that they can still steer home a solid seven game road trip.

Still some concerns on what they’re giving up, and the focus on details that seemed to have slipped in the last three games.

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The Flames were making hay through the first 12 games of the season by working hard, following a system, and playing close attention to details.

Most pundits had the team as a bubble team at best so their torrid 7-1-3 start had more than a few gob-smacked to say the least.

But something happened in the last two games, now both regulation losses with tonight’s 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadieans … or at least in the last four periods through the two games.

They’ve either been figured out or they’ve slipped off the recipe that they were so closely following to a T.

Tonight a decent first, though not great, and then two straight periods that just aren’t enough if you’re looking to win. They got what they deserved, and it will be interesting if that gets their attention and back to what was working previously.

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Oh the trap game.

A team that wasn’t supposed to come near the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year in the middle of a Covid out break that has them missing seven of their best players lining up against a hot team with points in ten straight eying a seven game road trip that will see them at the airport the next morning.

Yep … you just knew it didn’t you?

So it doesn’t come as a huge surprise that the Sharks scored an early third period goal and then added two empty netters in putting the Flames away by a 4-1 score.

Now the Flames weren’t exactly bad. They weren’t sharp, but they also didn’t get a lot of puck luck around the net and had enough shots and chances in the second period to win most games.

But lets face it, the team has had some bounces in running out to a 7-1-3 record to start the season. Tonight they took their lumps.

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