No Puck Luck vs Ducks, Flames Fall in OT

Calgary Flames 2 - Anaheim Ducks 3 (OT)

1st Period: CGY - Coleman (1) (Gaudreau) 7:43, ANA - Fowler (1) (Shattenkirk, Terry) PPG 15:56

2nd Period: CGY - Lindholm (2) (Gaudreau, Andersson) 3:52

3rd Period: ANA - Rakell (2) (Henrique, Mahura) 12:55

OT: ANA - Drysdale (1) (Terry) 3:26

After two games of the 2021-22 season, the Calgary Flames have 90 shots but just four goals to show for themselves as they now sit with a 0-1-1 record. While Saturday’s tilt against the Oilers was frustrating, tonight will really feel like a night that the Flames did more than enough to earn the two points as they really controlled the majority of play through sixty minutes.

Calgary got off to an early lead with newcomer Blake Coleman being sprung on a breakaway and beating John Gibson. His first goal in his first game with the club will inspire confidence in fans who are wary of any big Flames forward free agent signings based on the precedent set by other bad deals. Anaheim tied the game later in the period with a powerplay goal as Fowler scored through traffic.

The Flames re-took the lead in the second period with an extended shift started by the fourth line bleeding into a goal for the top line as Johnny Gaudreau found Elias Lindholm across the faceoff circles who beat a sliding Gibson for the 2-1 lead.

Calgary pushed hard for an insurance goal late in the 2nd and into the 3rd but it was Anaheim scoring next with Rickard Rakell taking advantage of a sloppy change and beating Markstrom with a perfect shot. In overtime, some sloppy defensive play gave Anaheim a 2-on-1 which led to the winning goal.

Final Thoughts

• All signs pointed to what should be a Calgary win with the Flames outshooting Anaheim 47 to 23 and carrying the play. The Flames were particularly impressive at even strength, creating 75% of the game’s scoring chances and 68.7% of high danger chances. Unfortunately sometimes things just don’t break your way in hockey and this was one of those.
• I’m not going to get too down on this team as they have played pretty well through the first couple of games and are unfortunate to have just one point to show for it. If they can sustain this and get a few more bounces, they should be a good team.
• I thought the Valimaki-Gudbranson pairing was quietly solid in just over 15 minutes of even strength time, particuarly Gudbranson who I have been hard on since he was signed but I will respect and admit when he had a good game

Flame of the Game

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Mangiapane (F): While he didn’t end up on the scoresheet tonight, I really liked the game of Mangiapane as he was creating offense all night long with his linemates Dillon Dube and Sean Monahan. He fired six shots on net as well and was always hard on the puck. So far I have no issues with him in the top six.

The Flames are next in action on Thursday night when they take on the Detroit Red Wings as they kick off a long road trip. Puck drop is 5:30 MT.