Connect with us

Calgary Flames

Game Recap: Flames Find Pressure A Little Too Late, Penalties A Problem

The Flames lost 5-3 to the visiting Minnesota Wild leading to their third consecutive loss.

Published

on

Game Summary

The starting lineup included Jonas Hiller in net, Mark Giordano and T.J. Brodie on defense, and Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Jiri Hudler up front. It was Markus Granlund vs Mikael Granlund in this hard-hitting, penalty-fest which left the Flames defense hurting. Joe Colborne and Dougie Hamilton stepped up during the game to play fast-paced, confident hockey, but it wasn’t enough to stop Minnesota from opening the scoring. With another goal by the visiting team in the first period, the Flames needed to break the 2-0 shutout in the second.

Ladislav Smid left in the first period with an apparent shoulder injury and didn’t return for the second. Later in the period it was announced that he was out for the night, depleting the Flames defense even more. And then it was the march of penalties as the Flames went marching one by one into the box. First, Stajan got a tripping call, then Frolik got a high-sticking call which led to a 5 on 3. One last nail in the coffin was Granlund’s delay of game call that helped Minnesota earn a 3-goal lead. It was 3-0 for the visitors when Deryk Engelland stepped up and capitalized on a great play to earn his first goal of the season. Minnesota would add another goal and so would David Jones for the Flames to make the score 4-2 going into the final 20 minutes.

The final period saw a lot of Flames pressure on the Wild net, and they got the best of Dubnyk when Mikael Backlund buried the puck to put the Flames back within one goal. But even with two power plays in the final 20 minutes, the Flames pressure wasn’t enough to tie the game. The Wild potted an empty-net goal to finalize the score at 5-3.

Flame Of The Game

Deryk Engelland. He played a hard-hitting game and never let up his pressure. He owned his space on the ice and capitalized in the second period with his first goal of the season. He's been one of the most consistent players on the team this season and he's earned the Flame Of The Game honour tonight.

Up Next

The Flames host the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night before taking a short road trip next week to visit the Anaheim Ducks and LA Kings.

by Traci Kay