Calgary Puck

The Flames had a lot going on in the last couple of days after their 5-1 setback to the Vancouver Canucks.

Called out on morning radio by former player Rhett Warrener, calls for a coaching change, questions on their character and work ethic.

So it seemed somewhat perfect that the Edmonton Oilers were coming to town, an opponent that is pretty much guaranteed to get a rise out of the locals.

Instead we got a conservative, but solid effort from both teams in a 2-1 victory for the Edmonton Oilers without a lick of fireworks.

The two teams get back at it tomorrow night in Edmonton, perhaps that’s the tonic to ignite a little passion between these two teams.

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The Flames and Canucks split their four game Northern Division run, with Calgary winning two of three in Vancouver before taking a face plant in a 5-1 win for the Canucks in Calgary tonight.

Honestly if it wasn’t for the audacious turnovers we saw all night I’d say the Flames probably played their best game of the four tonight territorially, but the mistakes were big, and the impact large as the Flames slip back to one game over .500.

The Flames need to settle down. Skill players are creating their own worst nightmare by handling the puck like a hang grenade and giving the puck away without a whole lot of resistance.

With the Oilers on tap for Friday and Saturday night the momentum should be there. Hopefully the game is too.

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Losses hurt, wins are fun, overreactions a plenty in Canadian markets.

When every game is a Canadian market vs a Canadian market it probably amps things up even more.

The Flames were awful on Saturday night dropping a 3-1 game while getting massively outshot on Hockey Night in Canada. Tonight the Flames bounced back with a well played 4-3 overtime win to take four of the six points from the Canucks in the mini series in Vancouver.

Hands up … who would have been pissed with a 6 point result in Vancouver? Can’t think there would be many.

Tonight it was a solid second period after a Calgary penalty filled first that spun the game before a crazy finish that saw the Flames give up a goalie pulled shorty to lose a lead, and then score on the very same powerplay when Gaudrea finished it in overtime.

What a crazy season.

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The Flames probably should have lost the game Thursday night, they didn’t.

You continue to play with fire however, and you’re going to get burned … team name, and logo clearly being played, but true nonetheless.

Desperate teams; Vancouver lost six in a row coming in, play desperately and if you’re not ready to match that level of angst you’re going to lose.

For Calgary you have to wonder if they are starting to assume they can lay back and let Jacob Markstrom earn them points, as their last two games have been pretty much the same.

Bad starts, too much time in their own zone, and too much reliance on their goaltender.

The loss snaps the Flames winning streak at three. Hopefully it also snaps their run of complacency.

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What more can you say about Jacob Markstrom?

He’s just money.

The Flames have played well in front of him to date on the season, his expected goals allowed vs actual is virtually flat, but not on this night as the returning Canuck is the man in a 3-1 victory on Thursday night.

It felt like one of those struggling teams finding a way to lose games as Vancouver carried the first half of the game, probably the first 40 minutes but were down 2-1 because of their former goaltender.

For Calgary it’s three in a row which is great, but they’re going to have to play a lot better than that to continue the streak and bring home some more results from Vancouver.

But the two points are secure as Calgary sits at 7-5-1 as the division seems to be separating into five teams that have playoff aspirations and two that are in serious trouble.

Oh and Calgary hasn’t played Ottawa yet.

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