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Calgary Flames

Recap: Flames Continue To Lose At The Dome, Fall 2-1 To Bruins In OT

Calgary, once again, can’t get a win on home ice.

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Calgary Flames 1 Boston Bruins 2 (OT)

The Flames were looking to bounce back and play better than they did Saturday night, which they did, but they didn’t have enough to take down the Bruins this afternoon.

David Rittich kept the Flames afloat and they looked solid in overtime, but some good defence by the Bruins in OT and a spectacular breakaway goal from Brad Marchand sank the Flames as OT was winding down. The Flames have now lost 7 of their last 8 home games.

1st Period: Flames 0 Bruins 1

For part of the period the Flames looked decent and were hanging with the Bruins, but 6 minutes in the Bruins scored and the Flames immediately were on their heels.

Calgary struggled to get pucks to the net in the period, getting only 4 SOG in the first 20 minutes. Credit to the Bruins though as their defence hunkered down and clogged the neutral zone not allowing the Flames many clean entries. Calgary killed the only penalty they took (allowed 2 SOG) and they had a horrible PP where they didn’t generate a shot on goal.

The only goal of the period came off the stick of the Boston Bruins. Calgary would get sloppy in their end and a turnover would lead to a David Pastrnak goal. Dougie Hamilton would send the puck up the boards towards Michael Frolik who could not handle the puck and Pastrnak would cruise in and score his 22nd of the season, putting Boston up 1-0.

2nd Period: Flames 1 Bruins 1

The Flames looked a little better in the second 20 minutes and that marginal better play lead to a goal, the only one of the period. Calgary killed the one penalty they took and the PP went 1-2 in the period, but the Flames still struggled to get shots to the net. Calgary had only 8 shots in the period, but at least one was a goal. Johnny Gaudreau would find Sean Monahan out front who would fire a shot on net which Rask would save, but Matthew Tkachuk was in the perfect spot out front and he would collect the loose change between Chara’s legs and bury his 22nd of the season, tying the game at 1-1.

The Bruins had a golden chance towards the end of the period as Ryan Spooner would come flying down the ice for a 1 on 1, but David Rittich showed why the Flames have placed their trust in him with a GORGEOUS glove save, robbing Spooner and keeping the game tied at 1-1.

3rd Period: Flames 1 Bruins 1

The third period looked like a back and forth affair by two teams who just wanted to get a point after getting blown out in their previous games. The Flames looked much better in the third, especially in the final 4 minutes.

Once again it was all David Rittich. The Flames starting netminder stoned walled the Bruins all period long, stopping all 7 shots Boston sent his way and none were easy. The Flames best chance came early in the 3rd on a feed from Michael Stone to Sam Bennett, but Bennett’s shot rang off the iron.

Overtime: Flames 1 Bruins 2

The Flames had PLENTY of chances to win this game in overtime, but Tuukka Rask stoned Sam Bennett, Johnny Gaudreau and TJ Brodie and the Flames would come up empty. Some great Bruins defence lead to a clean breakaway for Brad Marchand who would finally solve David Rittich and beat him 5 hole on the breakway to give the Bruins a 2-1 victory.

Final Thoughts

The Flames struggled early on against the Bruins, but once they settled in they were fairly competitive with Boston. The Flames gave up too many break out chances, but David Rittich bounced back well from a terrible performance Saturday night.

The Flames were able to take advantage of some special teams opportunities, getting another power play goal and they managed to kill off both penalties they took in the contest.

The more maddening thing is the fact that the Flames continue to lose at home. The Flames have now lost 7 of their last 8 homes games, 4 of those in extra time. Their record at the Saddledome is now 13-15-3. Unacceptable.

Flame Of The Game

David Rittich (G). Once again a Flames goalie is the player of the game in a Flames lost. Rittich had to make 4-5 huge saves in this contest to the get the Flames a point. The OT goal is what it is. He had no chance with Marchand coming at him at that speed. Rittich played great today in a game he needed after his stinker on Saturday against the Panthers.

What’s Next:

2/21: Calgary Flames vs Vegas Golden Knights

by Mark Parkinson